The Rolling Gamer BlogThe Rolling Gamer Bloghttp://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/atom.aspxCommunity Server2013-07-29T09:41:00ZWhy You Should Be Paying Attention to Shards: Online/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2014/05/23/why-you-should-be-paying-attention-to-shards-online.aspx2014-05-23T20:02:00Z2014-05-23T20:02:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-9ed882a4-2aad-14b9-6bf7-80095b126093"><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/indie/citadelstudios/shards610.jpg" style="margin-top:141px;" id="irc_mi" height="217" width="385" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Today&rsquo;s gaming market is largely devoid of the traditional, once-loved fantasy MMORPG. &nbsp;While some manage a strong start, they almost inevitably end up either free-to-play or offline, as maintaining the traditional subscription model simply isn&rsquo;t realistic anymore. &nbsp;Even </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">World of Warcraft,</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> the once undisputed king of fantasy MMORPGs, is witnessing a rapid decrease in numbers. &nbsp;The </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Elder Scrolls Online, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">a title which should be attracting millions on name alone, is having a rocky launch due to poor reception of the weighty subscription required to play. &nbsp;The traditional formula is dead, and developers realize that they must adapt.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Enter Citadel Studios, developer of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">an MMORPG currently seeking Kickstarter funding. &nbsp;Composed of former developers of lauded RPGs including </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ultima Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Morrowind </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">(just to name a few), Citadel is hoping to shake up the formula with ideas that, while admittedly somewhat vague/open to interpretation, just might be ambitious enough to change up the connotations carried by the term &ldquo;MMORPG.&rdquo; </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">How are they gonna do it, and why do I think they can? &nbsp;In this blog, I want to identify four main pillars of what I think should bring </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> success during its Kickstarter, while in full development, and post-launch (the period which kills most MMOs). &nbsp;I&rsquo;ll begin with an elevator pitch of the game itself, as the goals of the game require some explanation.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Game</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">If a few words could encompass the collection of ideas present in </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, &ldquo;consequential,&rdquo; &ldquo;dynamic,&rdquo; and &ldquo;living&rdquo; might be fitting. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">utilizes servers, but no two servers are going to be exactly alike. &nbsp;Whereas traditional MMORPGs carry minor variations between servers (often designating between &ldquo;player vs. player&rdquo; or &ldquo;player vs. environment&rdquo; focuses), Shards is defined by the endless, player driven possibilities of each server. &nbsp;While each server will carry a similar template and toolset, the population will decide how the events play out.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For instance, each server has a designated amount of &ldquo;residential area&rdquo; that allows players to claim land as their home base. &nbsp;From here, they can open and run businesses, hire NPCs, simply rest before returning to adventures, or anything else. &nbsp;However, the actions of each player leave a mark on the world, permanently setting it apart from a different server, even by simple actions like hiring a certain NPC as a worker, preventing other players from doing so. &nbsp;Additionally, each shard will be defined by its own ruleset (defined by players), opening up limitless possibilities.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/F70fsZyLMUj8iouu0WR4F8pXldxV-U3jWJi72aIm6oyDF9zKS8jZwhqP4VnyWiL4lgqa1kU5xxyVxDzeXuBxrrkJO0OU1ut5QoN4S5NvJ55CGhf2uiHF3UuYXnxc7gQH4g" style="border:none;" height="194px;" width="620px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">That said, the game is more than a life simulation. &nbsp;The core of many fantasy MMORPGs, fighting and looting and growing a character, is still very intact. &nbsp;Players can venture into dungeons and dangerous countrysides or engage in player versus player, but in a much less linear fashion than that which is present in other MMOs. &nbsp;Instead of receiving set quests or engaging in canned public events, player in </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">will be forced to explore and interact with other players and the environment in order to create an adventure. &nbsp;That isn&rsquo;t to say that NPCs do not assist in the journey, but the goal is for more dynamic adventuring. &nbsp;For example, a player tampering with the nest of a dragon could result in the aforementioned dragon attacking a town, forcing its denizens to take up arms. &nbsp;These events are all brought about </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">purely </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">by the actions of players.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Possibilities</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The player-driven nature of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">opens up layers of possibilities for what the experience could eventually become. &nbsp;We&rsquo;ve already seen games like </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Rust </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">DayZ </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">give players command over server rules and outcomes, but no other MMO allows for the dramatic world changes that </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">hopes to introduce. &nbsp;Any gamer knows the feeling of disagreeing with the design decisions of a developer, regardless of game type. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">wants to remove this frustration, allowing players to define their experience in their personal server. &nbsp;No longer is it impossible to burn down impermeable central cities of an MMO. &nbsp;With enough support, wars can occur, cities can be sacked, trade empires can be established, huge monsters can be taken down...everything is a decision, as opposed to a design choice.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aH8NDI2hDnevh0CuP3AkAtUVRmzE1UHVX0UzQD0IrcrD2DA3YfpK6IefZ7tvskPHh25TCFA6gwHMzsfpX6dHVDk3xIHEoU3PUIf2xRogrnd7VREPMnGNkanYPkM_tKXXMQ" style="border:none;" height="256px;" width="620px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Two huge facets of the game&rsquo;s design support these unprecedented possibilities: the open character customization system, and the presence of &ldquo;gods.&rdquo; &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">doesn&rsquo;t believe in character classes or leveling up. &nbsp;Instead, skills are learned naturally, be it through tomes or trainers. &nbsp;A stealth-based character can wield spells, or a hammer-wielding brute can sneak around. &nbsp;Respec options are always available, allowing players to avoid the typical MMO problem of giving up after finding themselves bored after 20 levels of playing a class that they don&rsquo;t like. &nbsp;Characters can be customized to fit the vision of the player, and are not restricted to the archetypes of the developer.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Citadel knows that placing more power in some players&rsquo; hands is a must in order to provide some sort of progression to the game, and they&rsquo;ve created an effective method of doing so. &nbsp;Players can ascend to &ldquo;god&rdquo; status, which is, in essence, becoming a moderator. &nbsp;However, &ldquo;god&rdquo; levels are tiered, with some having more power than others. &nbsp;Additionally, gods are meant to give the game a level of unpredictability, not simply to keep players in line. &nbsp;Higher level gods can kill any beast or player instantaneously. &nbsp;They can also influence the rules and happenings of the shard, giving even more unique flair to each world. &nbsp;While I can see this opening up some possibilities for easy trolling, I can also see it creating interesting relationships between player and god, opening up opportunities for emergent gameplay</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Team</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Let&rsquo;s be honest: even the best of ideas cannot be executed upon without a quality team of designers. &nbsp;Thankfully, Citadel Studios&rsquo;s has a team with time in the gaming industry totaling over forty years. &nbsp;Leading the group is Derek Brinkmann, who carried the title of lead engineer on </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ultima Online</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> during the development of two of its expansion packs. &nbsp;Additionally, Chris Ondrus, who worked on </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Morrowind</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dark Age of Camelot</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, and </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Warhammer Online</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, is working as the art director of the team. &nbsp;Lastly, Tim Cotten is </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards&rsquo; </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">creative director, and spent time on the </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ultima Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">team. &nbsp;Working under these three founders is a team of dedicated individuals, some of whom are new to the industry, while others have been working in it for several years. &nbsp;Rest assured, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is in the hands of folks that are not only passionate, but also capable. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Release Schedule</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">One of the top questions for any gaming Kickstarter is &ldquo;When can I play?&rdquo; &nbsp;Citadel Studios already has a pre-alpha build of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">up and running, which will be made available to backers at a certain level almost immediately following the campaign. &nbsp;Lower level backers will be invited into an alpha later this year, and then a more open beta will follow sometime in mid-2015, with the full game (hopefully) releasing in late 2015. &nbsp;By already having a dedicated team and pre-alpha build, Citadel seems to have a pretty good handle on their development times and seem appropriately confident in their dates.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5PXQXanQ3vpxFSW2F_4-2m0On6vC1e21rXAAFLOgZM4JpMQmmLpc5QDqDQ0lRWHbTlaVGHOSKImcqjFQCHrv5jDRmfKx5wTTd-h9XyBiH4hlsTgLnpOudKNrobthqjkkkw" style="border:none;" height="358px;" width="409px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">However, the release schedule of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is also perhaps its most terrifying prospect. &nbsp;Games like </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">DayZ Standalone</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> and </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Rust </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">have seen large success during early access stages, but seem somewhat deadened by the time full release comes along. &nbsp;Or, in the case of the aforementioned examples, before the game even officially releases. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">has the advantage of being, in a way, more &ldquo;large scale&rdquo; than either of these titles, with a focus on watching a world grow over a long period of time, as opposed to wiping a server after just a couple weeks. &nbsp;For this reason, I can see </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">holding more lasting appeal than similar player-driven MMOs, but its still a worrying prospect.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">__________________________________________________________________________</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Not yet convinced? Feel free to check out </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&rsquo;s </span><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1468280928/shards-online-a-customizable-sandbox-mmorpg" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Kickstarter page</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> for more information. &nbsp;The project is intriguing. Gamers love RPGs, choice, connectedness, and playing games that allow us to do things other than loot and kill. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Shards Online </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">hopes to take all of these, throw them together, and see what gamers choose to do with the freedom. &nbsp;The experience hearkens back to old school, but in a way that could only be done today. &nbsp;Check it out.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6811353" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxHave We Forgotten the Beauty of Simple, Subtle Storytelling?/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2014/02/11/have-we-forgotten-the-beauty-of-simple-subtle-storytelling.aspx2014-02-11T16:22:00Z2014-02-11T16:22:00Z<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><img class="irc_mut" src="http://longdrivejourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/responsibility.jpg" style="margin-top:42px;" id="irc_mi" height="155" width="308" alt="" /><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">As gamers, we&rsquo;ve been called &ldquo;Dovahkiin&rdquo; and have been heralded as &ldquo;the Shepard.&rdquo; We have saved nations and even worlds through the lenses of just a single character. &nbsp;We have wielded ancient weapons against scores of fiends that are larger than life, immortal and omnipotent until &nbsp;our specific sprite makeup appears onscreen. &nbsp;We&rsquo;ve watched entire galaxies bend under the weight of a conversation tree, worlds fold from the pressure of a single villain&rsquo;s death. &nbsp;We&rsquo;ve seen stakes beyond imagination, situations that could only occur within a fictional universe. &nbsp;We&rsquo;ve changed the fates of lives and worlds a countless number of times.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And now, after doing it hundreds of times, it no longer matters.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Video games are interesting in large part due to the escapist fantasies that they provide. &nbsp;Being able to fall into a new world and play with the tools that it gifts you with is an experience attractive to many people. &nbsp;Additionally, we like to feel powerful. &nbsp;Being given the ability to mold a landscape, make friends, or even (perhaps most commonly) take a life are all empowering actions, giving them a level of interest for the player. &nbsp;When an entire galaxy, world, nation, or other large group of people is put at stake and players are the only people with the power to save it, we feel special. &nbsp;We </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">enjoy </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">knowing that there is an entire galaxy dependent on our reliability as not only a player, but a </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">person. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">However, like the best of drugs, escapism and the illusion of power are fleeting emotions that almost always require larger doses when a person returns for more. &nbsp;As a result, the majority of games (minus sports, racing, simulation, etc. titles, obviously) with a focus on story are now asking players to pick up a controller and save a universe.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GClkWDNu2VLzwzl5dk0OtGgFas90UREwc6WR9HCa90l4Apr0xjZFsM-sOtsi_Ya_YaAuK_drHHT61JuHvnFwN7vue77wxF8vV3hDS5cwBOaLP_LpTLQ5XZLrdw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" height="290px;" width="349px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">(I&rsquo;m sorry, but I don&rsquo;t wanna save you anymore)</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Don&rsquo;t believe me? &nbsp;Let&rsquo;s look at 2013: In Naughty Dog&rsquo;s </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">a focal point for the plot (though, arguably, not the game&rsquo;s focus) is assisting a group in finding a cure for what is essentially a zombie outbreak. &nbsp;And you, the player, are the only one who can bring this cure about. &nbsp;In </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock Infinite, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">players must save an entire city in the sky from a moderately insane, power crazy man by (</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">some spoilers follow!</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">) erasing his birth from every parallel universe in which he has ever existed. &nbsp;In </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sants Row IV, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">the player&rsquo;s character is literally the President of the United States. &nbsp;If this wasn&rsquo;t placing gamers in a powerful enough role already, the game tasks players with repelling an alien invasion that will inevitably be the ruin of mankind otherwise.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">While I see the appeal for this type of storytelling in each game, it also disappoints me. &nbsp;Why must a plot revolve around apocalyptic happenstance hinging on player action in order for the player to become attached? &nbsp;Can&rsquo;t smaller scale stories pull us in, or are these types of plots running too steadfast against the flow of gaming&rsquo;s &ldquo;power-granting&rdquo; appeal for them to find an audience? &nbsp;If we can&rsquo;t find solace in small stories and the large ones are becoming too &ldquo;one note&rdquo; for our (or, at least, my) liking, then on what are we to settle?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I believe that the answer is twofold. &nbsp;In most of the experiences that utilize this &ldquo;save the world&rdquo; plot, the focus is often not placed on the actual conflict. &nbsp;Instead, the player&rsquo;s focus is supposed to be placed on the characters or gameplay, which the developers have made the focal point of the experience. &nbsp;However, if this is the case, then does the entire world truly need to be at stake in order to force the characters of a story to develop in interesting ways? &nbsp;If we are focusing on characters and gameplay, then why are our overarching plots so unoriginal? &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">It is in these departments that I can see large potential for innovations in game storytelling. &nbsp;Instead of creating interesting characters and then asking them to save a galaxy or undergo some other sort of cataclysmic experiences, let&rsquo;s tone it down. &nbsp;Let&rsquo;s tell stories that are smaller in scope, but in no way diminish the transformations that a character has the opportunity to undergo.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">As an example, take a glance at Rockstar&rsquo;s </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Red Dead Redemption. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The plot is relatively simple: your character, John Marston, is a retired outlaw who is forced back into work after the government abducts his wife and child. &nbsp;To get the pair back, he must set out to take down three members of his previous gang. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eq0yJifsCNdBhvE5KzcdqRh4UuBJAMqYQAayeDe7XPr6N3suZB1SVfLPkhWLSScA7iQZMDV5EY3LuLZKmPQeGKSfRrXNkgn-M-iMWWZhURp7nQXf7JteTVZsIA" style="border:0px solid transparent;" height="231px;" width="308px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">By being smaller scale, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Red Dead Redemption </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is more personal and engaging.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">While the story still has intrigue and happenstance involved (what decent plot doesn&rsquo;t?), it doesn&rsquo;t require a plot that revolves around saving a huge group of people in order to succeed. &nbsp;Rockstar creates a set number of characters, makes them interesting enough to form a connection with the player, and then tells their story. &nbsp;The fact that the plot is smaller scale doesn&rsquo;t matter-we are just as, if not more than, engrossed in a tale of saving our family as we are one of saving a galaxy. &nbsp;The story is personal, heartfelt, and, perhaps most importantly, it is </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">real.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This is where I&rsquo;d love to see developers take gaming. &nbsp;While I would never ask the industry to completely abandon huge, pie in the sky tales of saving the world, I&rsquo;d also be very welcoming for evolution. &nbsp;Seeing more stories that attempt to create connections to players through a plot with </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">smaller </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">stakes is an exciting idea, and something that I&rsquo;d like to see more of. &nbsp;This isn&rsquo;t to say that every game suffers from the high stakes issue, and many (especially indies) are even beginning to address the issue. &nbsp;However, there is still a lot of progress to make, and the technology of today can only assist in closing the gap.&nbsp; <br /></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6572222" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspx2013 In Review: The Games I Played, Complete With Mini Reviews for Each/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2014/01/28/2013-in-review-the-games-i-played-complete-with-mini-reviews-for-each.aspx2014-01-28T22:36:00Z2014-01-28T22:36:00Z<p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:0px;" class="irc_mut" src="http://brewsandbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013.jpg" id="irc_mi" width="360" height="360" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;">In 2013, I played through 30 games.&nbsp; And then I decided to review all of them.&nbsp; And then, when I finished that, I created a top ten list and threw in some honorable mentions.&nbsp; Afterwards, I put it all into this blog.&nbsp; Check it out.<br /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2013 was undoubtedly an influential year for the gaming industry. &nbsp;On the AAA gaming front, players witnessed an influx of quality sequels, original IPs, and reboots. &nbsp;In the indie world, titles such as Gone Home and The Stanley Parable wowed gamers by pushing the definition of &ldquo;video game&rdquo; to its limits. &nbsp;On the hardware side of things, both Microsoft and Sony unveiled and released their next iterations of the Xbox and Playstation, respectively. &nbsp;Meanwhile, companies such as Oculus and Valve announced and are wowing the public with revolutionary hardware and software intended to change the ways we game.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Amid all of this news regarding new hardware, it becomes easy to forget about the sheer number of games that were released, many giving a final bow to the current (past?) console generation. &nbsp;With that in mind, I decided to create this list, celebrating every game that I played to completion in 2013. &nbsp;In addition, I&rsquo;ve created mini reviews for each, giving you a decent idea of how I felt about each. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Throughout 2013, I played a total of 30 games. &nbsp;While it isn&rsquo;t the </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">largest </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">number in the world, I consider it a small feat. &nbsp;Despite the number, I am also proud of my ability to say that the games I played had a large variety, including indie titles such as Proteus, but also more ridiculous titles, such as DMC: Devil May Cry. &nbsp;Not every game that I played this year was released in 2013, but enough were that I was able to compile a Top Ten for this year, the content of which I&rsquo;m including </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">after </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">the reviews for games that I played through this year, but were released prior to then.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And so, without any further ado, here are reviews for every game from </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">before </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2013 that I played through </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">in </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2013 (Note: These are displayed in the order that they were completed):</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To the Moon</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To the Moon</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is an interesting indie title that separates itself from many similar games in two large ways: art style and setting. &nbsp;The game tells the story of a man and woman who work for a company that specializes in &ldquo;wish fulfillment,&rdquo; or manipulating the memories of a dying person in order to make them believe that they had done something in their life that they had always dreamt of, giving them happiness in their final moments. &nbsp;The plot is original and emotional, taking the player through the life of a dying man who has always wished to visit the moon. &nbsp;The tale is told from a perspective reminiscent of many 16-bit RPGs, a graphical style that fits surprisingly well with the tale being told. &nbsp;While short, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To the Moon</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is a title that I&rsquo;d wholeheartedly recommend.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Uncharted: Golden Abyss</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nathan Drake&rsquo;s first foray onto the Playstation Vita is exactly what it aims for: a portable version of its big screen brother. &nbsp;Shooting mechanics are tight and the graphical prowess is unprecedented for a handheld title, boasting impressive vistas and surprisingly crisp textures. &nbsp;With the Vita&rsquo;s OLED screen, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Golden Abyss</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> manages to become even brighter and more impressive. &nbsp;The story is fun, but not overly deep or consequential to the series. &nbsp;The series&rsquo; key set pieces are present, though not to the extent of the title&rsquo;s home console brethren. &nbsp;However, even with the very &ldquo;portable&rdquo; feel of the entry, I still enjoyed </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Uncharted: Golden Abyss</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> through its final moments.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UjWAek4KM1q63o4t_sXhwcf-Dg6ev_78fAGhZ7GGqONHDfbtj5gyTfsEsMTH8YXT1vXEAyJGvbkvdaKo-MzattkU0xkjS0DCMW72vYG8Djcel-Rf_TrTBdObGw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="316px;" height="160px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Hitman: Absolution</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Contrary to many others, I was not a huge fan of </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Hitman: Absolution</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;I thought that the series lauded &ldquo;hiding in plain sight&rdquo; mechanic was basically broken, as you weren&rsquo;t able to &ldquo;hide&rdquo; long before being caught, despite being disguised sufficiently. &nbsp;In addition, the story was relatively mundane and formulaic, with characters that were gross and cruel, but not memorable in the ways that the best antagonists are. &nbsp;The art style didn&rsquo;t do much for me, though that largely comes down to personal preference. &nbsp;Even with these negatives, the title does manage to provide an open-ended level design, giving many routes for completing levels. &nbsp;This occasionally results in cool moments, but wading through poor stealth mechanics and mundane plot almost makes it not worthwhile.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Torchlight II</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I spent </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">a lot </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">of time with </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Torchlight 2</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;Eventually, I fell into a rhythm: flip on the game, choose one of my multiple characters, turn on a podcast, and dungeon crawl for hours at a time. &nbsp;The variety present in both the dungeons and characters is astounding, but even the minor tediums of the game are worthwhile. &nbsp;By this, I simply mean that grinding and running through dungeons </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">can </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">become mundane, but the satisfying gameplay and impressive visuals make the time spent still immensely enjoyable. &nbsp;The game is also cheap, delivering an astounding amount of content for the small price you&rsquo;ll likely pay. &nbsp;All in all, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Torchlight 2</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is a brilliant action RPG.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Persona 4: Golden</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Persona 4</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> was a game that I was reluctant to pick up and play. &nbsp;Traditionally, I hate JRPGs. &nbsp;The idea of spending upwards of 100 hours on turn based, repetitive combat and cookie cutter characters has never been high on my &ldquo;to-do&rdquo; list. </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&nbsp;Persona 4</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> changed my entire outlook, quickly becoming one of my favorite games both on this list and my list of all time favorite games. &nbsp;From the opening moments,</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Persona 4</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> pulled me in with interesting characters (with fantastic voice acting to boot), combat that was still somewhat tedious, but at least satisfying, and a plot and characters are some of the most brilliant I&rsquo;ve seen in gaming. &nbsp;By the end of my 70 hours with </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Persona 4</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, I could only wish for more. &nbsp;I will definitely replay the title in future years, and I&rsquo;m sure that it will feel just as fresh and impressive as it was the first time that I picked it up.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n1sDCQfoZ_ZKRd9lQhRwfhOCw0VwVFkSPtnxdxDY1ov2p8TCgP6LuOf8FEFhbHm7gzDMjkfLelZSbLnJ6kAXhlW1q9Lc9VI0PtVfhFTCWTwDqBdUnUqqJcunoQ" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="357px;" height="201px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sleeping Dogs</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I picked up </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sleeping Dogs</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> when it was free for Playstation Plus members. &nbsp;I had heard good things, but was not prepared for the quality that I found. &nbsp;While the mission variety and world are fairly similar to many other open world games, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sleeping Dogs</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> sets itself apart with one major mechanic: hand-to-hand combat. &nbsp;Fighting street thugs without guns is an experience reminiscent of fighting similar enemies in a </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Batman: Arkham</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> title, but is noticeably more gruesome and gory. &nbsp;Guns are eventually given to the player, but they feel unoriginal when compared to the brilliant hand-to-hand. &nbsp;Therefore, while </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sleeping Dogs</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> isn&rsquo;t the most original title, it is still a fun romp through a moderately interesting world.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Also known (to me) as &ldquo;Mind F*ck: The Game,&rdquo; </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> tasks players with a simple objective: explore a desolate, grey island. &nbsp;As the player follows a linear track through the island, they are exposed to monologues from a narrator possessing a sesquipedalian manner of speaking that gives the game an eerie feel, though it is far from a horror title. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">tells a largely allegorical tale, the specifics of which are open enough to interpretation that players will likely spend as much time </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">thinking </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">about the game after completion as they did actually </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">playing </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">it. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is an interesting experiment in storytelling that is well worth checking out.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Fez</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Similarly to </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther, Fez</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> loves to screw with players&rsquo; minds, but in entirely different ways. &nbsp;Trying to describe Fez to someone is a nearly impossible feat, as it should simply be played in order to fully grasp what the experience is. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Fez</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is a puzzle game...but not in the traditional sense. &nbsp;Even the most simple puzzles require a truly intuitive, mathematical mind in order to comprehend (something that I do not possess). &nbsp;Beyond this, the game contains entire secret alphabets and languages, only making it more complex. &nbsp;The art style is bright, the music is fitting, and the overall atmosphere is just consistent and well done. &nbsp;Without saying anymore, I&rsquo;d recommend that anyone looking for innovative puzzles play </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Fez </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">immediately.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pzNGhBat8WlDPoVpoNm2cr0aKLSZ096JSj_bbVQzSemrSHXuQ1I5tH_J-vftLJzOseBLLNMxDSGEZ-XSIZi9bCS26TZBZ5vajScKGSkwW5YTs2eLG1WsHCtysw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="180px;" height="216px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Castlevania: Symphony of the Night</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Castlevania: Symphony of the Night </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is a classic. &nbsp;Even by today&rsquo;s standards, the features and mechanics that were lauded on its original release are impressive. &nbsp;Tight platforming and surprisingly deep RPG elements, along with enjoyable combat, interesting enemies and bosses, and varied environments give the title breath today. &nbsp;The fact that (spoiler...I guess) the game can end prematurely, hiding half of the total experience, is staggering. &nbsp;With </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Castlevania: SotN, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">there isn&rsquo;t much to be said: the game&rsquo;s a classic for a reason. &nbsp;Check it out.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Metal Gear Solid</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Another classic that I just got around to playing for the first time, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Metal Gear Solid </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">has been heaped with infamous praise. &nbsp;Regardless of whether &ldquo;father of stealth action&rdquo; is too hyperbolic or not, it cannot be denied that the original </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">MGS </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">has had a large impact on modern stealth titles. &nbsp;The plot, which can be considered convoluted, is also filled with great characters and some of the more interesting villains in gaming. &nbsp;Stealth mechanics are tight, though the perspective and movement are understandably somewhat floaty by today&rsquo;s standards. &nbsp;Overall, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Metal Gear Solid </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is worth playing for the history lesson, but isn&rsquo;t as impressive when compared to the stealth titles of today.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Metal Gear Solid 2</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Successor to the last game on this list, I had high hopes that the more recent release would maintain the great characters and plot from the first while modernizing the controls and general feel of the gameplay. &nbsp;Fortunately, this is mostly what I received. &nbsp;In addition, the graphics and animations of the game are improved, giving the title a modern feel. &nbsp;I enjoyed the plot almost as much as that of the first game, though I felt that it became somewhat too broad and ambitious towards the end sequences. &nbsp;With that said, the title is a worthy successor to the classic, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Infinity Blade II</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The original </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Infinity Blade</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> was exciting and fresh- the visuals were crisp, the combat was clean if repetitive, and the world felt like it could be interesting. &nbsp;Yet, it still felt like a limited experience that ultimately became boring. </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&nbsp;Infinity Blade 2</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is a step in the right direction, but never quite reaches its full potential. &nbsp;All of the great features of the first game are present, but added is a focus on story, voiced characters, and more branching paths. &nbsp;Even with these additions, however, the game still feels as if it is only an inch deep, so to speak. &nbsp;It isn&rsquo;t that the game is bad or unimpressive, it just doesn&rsquo;t innovate the formula of the first enough to be spectacular. &nbsp;And, since the unprecedented feel of the first game isn&rsquo;t present, the title feels not only thin, but also formulaic. &nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dragon&rsquo;s Dogma</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Everything I had heard about </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dragon&rsquo;s Dogma</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> made me excited to check it out: huge world, customizable classes that can be changed at will, loot, and huge enemies&hellip; what&rsquo;s not to like? &nbsp;In addition, the title introduces a &ldquo;pawn&rdquo; system, which essentially allows you to form parties of NPCs created by both you and other characters. &nbsp;There are so many systems at play in the game, and most are pulled off surprisingly well. &nbsp;When blended together, they create an experience that feels fresh and interesting, if not a little thin. &nbsp;Regardless, I heartily enjoyed my time with Dragon&rsquo;s Dogma, and would love to see the ideas present in it taken to the next level in a sequel.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GDIcuY32os4KuFI0-H-Twtjz5imzzefd3U-dyfvjB461C82RH5JJtPwSy4JIXSY1NpEWTdqRDV-6FOEn7W6GRpOTOGj2un3wOKSPPwNAfkTsud98TTFXRSsATg" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="360px;" height="201px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">was given new life this year in the form of a Wii U Virtual Console re-release. &nbsp;I figured that now, when new players like I were abundant, would be a great time to jump in and see what the game is all about. &nbsp;I&rsquo;m glad I did. &nbsp;The characters and plot of </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">remain whimsical and entertaining today, and the atmosphere and humor of the world is equally brilliant. &nbsp;The combat, while difficult at times, creates suspense in every fight through the ingenious &ldquo;rolling health&rdquo; system. &nbsp;The plot is simplistic, but contains themes and ideas that are easily missed if the player is not careful. &nbsp;In a year of highly realistic, serious games, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">stands out as a happy title that is simply fun to play.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Far Cry 3</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Towards the end of this year, I received a new gaming PC. &nbsp;For its maiden voyage, I chose to play Far Cry 3 with settings turned way up. &nbsp;The experience was incredible, with lighting, foliage, and textures that I&rsquo;d never seen in gaming before. &nbsp;Beyond that, however, the game is just </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">fun. </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&nbsp;Taking out a base of soldiers without raising an alarm is an adrenaline-pumping experience that always ends with a satisfactory feeling. &nbsp;The main story missions tend to be fun, though they sometimes lean into more linear tendencies, a goal that I ultimately found detrimental to the experience. &nbsp;Side missions feel thin, but I honestly didn&rsquo;t engage in enough of them to know for sure. &nbsp;Despite some hiccups in storytelling and side content, however, the mechanics and stealth gameplay create an experience that shouldn&rsquo;t be missed.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And now...a Top Ten!</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0qrydWUdMezQ4Cr17JUFQeVcGH4vVNFfu0SYW1pngtegLty5M_jNJ6lzb6qeEkNO2ivDZWuOpzm9sOdqAy6_YWk3XNX0XpujCle8GkTm3rDpF-bsqgC2QHTNvw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="398px;" height="199px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Those were the games that I played through in 2013 that were not released in 2013. &nbsp;There were exactly 15 games, making it equivalent to half my list. &nbsp;This next half will be my Top Ten of 2013, along with some Honorable Mentions. &nbsp;However, I must stress that I either did not complete or even begin every game released this year, so some titles that might have made the list are absent (what&rsquo;s up, Grand Theft Auto V?). &nbsp;And so, ladies and gentlemen, my top games of 2013: </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">10) Guacamelee</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Guacamelee</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is pure, unbridled fun. &nbsp;Fighting mechanics are tight, combos and controls are fluid, and the platforming is spot-on. &nbsp;The art style is stylized and attractive, with a cartoony, largely stereotypical Mexican setting, complete with luchadores and bull fights. &nbsp;The story is simplistic enough, but the varied characters and often funny dialogue are clearly the focus, and for good reason. &nbsp;Most of the humor in </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Guacamelee </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">hits home, creating a light hearted mood that only supplements the cartoonish art style and gameplay. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Guacamelee </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is a definite recommendation.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">9) The Stanley Parable</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">There&rsquo;s something refreshing about a video game that not only knows, but </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">acknowledges </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">its status as such. &nbsp;And when, after this reality is acknowledged, the game uses it in entertaining ways&hellip;well, something special has happened. &nbsp;And this is exactly what occurs in</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> The Stanley Parable</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;Without diving into spoiler territory, I&rsquo;ll simply say that </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">works from the position of knowing exactly what it is, and then using that to its advantage. &nbsp;It is a metaphor, a commentary, and a poem. &nbsp;It is calling out issues that no one else will even look at, asking questions that few others are asking. &nbsp;Check it out.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">8) Tearaway</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Guacamelee, Tearaway </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is simply a fun game to play, but for different reasons. &nbsp;While the platforming is simple and the combat could easily be called repetitive, the art transforms it from a title with only minor quality to a title that I think everyone should experience. &nbsp;Every object in the game is made of paper and could, theoretically, be recreated in real life. &nbsp;Media Molecule takes this concept beyond imagination and creates one of the more imaginative worlds I&rsquo;ve ever seen in gaming. &nbsp;That, combined with interesting uses of the Vita&rsquo;s specific technologies (the rear touch pad actually has use!) make </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Tearaway </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">not only one of my favorite games of the year, but an experience that I&rsquo;ll remember for a long while.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qKY-AbG2bMRWw-FZ5iwsA8dOPzzrfKvbHioaKfdOWo9x60jottdyDAno25x6LATGP9hpAexUUxZHrk20da8RzFv8gxrMpGtsB8siQjleRGVs1ifw2ZIV9cZ4iw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="418px;" height="235px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">7) Fire Emblem: Awakening</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In a million years, I would never have guessed that I&rsquo;d enjoy a JSRPG quite as much as I did </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Fire Emblem: Awakening. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In fact, I probably would&rsquo;ve never even picked one up. &nbsp;But with the reception and hype being thrown on the game, I had no choice but to try it out. &nbsp;Within just an hour or two, I was glad that I had. &nbsp;The lauded difficulty of SRPGs is present, but accessible enough on the mechanics front to make it interesting nonetheless. &nbsp;The art and characters are well done, and the ways that their relationships flow with the battles is interesting. &nbsp;The overarching plot is interesting enough, though nothing groundbreaking. &nbsp;In summary, I&rsquo;d recommended </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Awakening </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">to anyone, even those with no previous interest in SRPGs.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">6) The Swapper</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Swapper </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">tries to be a lot of things, and it mostly pays off. &nbsp;The art style is attractive, sporting characters and environments made of both clay and random household objects. &nbsp;The puzzle segments, which involve the replication and manipulation of clones of the player character, are well done and challenging. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Swapper </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">tells a dark, subtle, philosophical story, the subtleties of which can be easily missed if players are not careful. &nbsp;The ending in particular is one of the most memorable I&rsquo;ve seen in a while. &nbsp;Attempting to describe the brilliance of </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Swapper </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is difficult, so here&rsquo;s my advice: go play it.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">5) Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Swapper, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">attempting to describe </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">isn&rsquo;t an easy experience. &nbsp;The art is brilliant, the character models attractive...but </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">does something </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">different, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">something that hit me personally. &nbsp;It tells a story of family love, a tale that resonated deeply with me. &nbsp;Having a younger brother myself, the magnitude of each story event was amplified as I related them to my own life. &nbsp;The controls take some getting used to (two characters are controlled simultaneously), but getting past this only allows the player to form an even larger bond with each of the story&rsquo;s titular brothers. &nbsp;For an experience that is both personal and beautiful, check this game out.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/y9EACfGwCyD7XVi93uPOrHNnCu8YocLcp8ZCDr3OCBpK_3d0WxMjpyuMpJl1LU9MdxK5JGP-hURTnBp0xw4txvQMapuVxrqhyLlryiGOgREfTf6WBogdNs9dJw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="293px;" height="165px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">4) Gunpoint</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gunpoint </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is a shockingly good game. &nbsp;Within the opening moments, the game&rsquo;s hilarious writing pulled me in. &nbsp;Not long after, I was introduced to the &ldquo;hacking&rdquo; mechanics of the game, which are equally as engaging. &nbsp;Puzzles are varied and must be approached from different angles, keeping the experience engaging. &nbsp;The side scrolling, pixelated art style is charming, if not a bit unoriginal. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gunpoint</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&rsquo;s relatively short length is practically perfect, giving just enough to satisfy players, but also not overstaying its welcome. &nbsp;For its humor, gameplay hooks, and concise nature, I&rsquo;m happy to place </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gunpoint </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">this high on my list. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s a game that I can&rsquo;t necessarily explain </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">why </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I love so much, but that I know for certain that I do.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">3) Bioshock Infinite</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I&rsquo;ve never played the original </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and wasn&rsquo;t quite sure what I was in for with </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Infinite. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I am of the opinion that this gave me an advantage, as I was pleasantly surprised with everything the game contained. &nbsp;With a carefully balanced story of politics, racism, idol worship, and parallel universes, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock Infinite </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">goes deeper than most other games. &nbsp;The world of Columbia is brilliantly realized, creating both visual spectacle and a sense of mystery throughout. &nbsp;The &ldquo;gamey&rdquo; portions of </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Infinite, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">which include typical FPS gameplay in addition to miscellaneous &ldquo;magical&rdquo; powers, are (in my opinion) pretty well done. &nbsp;I enjoyed the shooting elements, even if they did begin to feel somewhat repetitive towards the end. &nbsp;All in all, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock Infinite </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is simply an interesting tale with one of the greatest worlds I&rsquo;ve ever seen world, with enjoyable shooting to back it all up.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2) Gone Home</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gone Home</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is perhaps the most personal game that I have ever played. &nbsp;Despite the fact that its core story contains elements completely foreign to me, I was still able to identify with the experience in ways that I&rsquo;ve never been able to any other. &nbsp;It is for this reason that I hold </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gone Home </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">in such high esteem. &nbsp;The title is mysterious, beginning with your character on the front steps of your home, which you have been absent from for a year. &nbsp;However, events soon turn strange as you realize that the house is empty and you must learn what has happened there. &nbsp;Within this small review, I will divulge no more story details, as doing so would defeat the game&rsquo;s purpose. &nbsp;By telling a personal tale of love, family, and commitment, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gone Home </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is easily one of my favorite games not only of this year, but one of the greatest stories I&rsquo;ve ever listened in on, regardless of medium.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/puhvjYtCvCojTCVtOegbAbC5eIdFFy34ozG2qltlmBjnYIJ5WCJ5P31iUbrJj6x_mmxYCEA9SVId6ALHBRoXZwtoL60TeehfeCAT8DIpHXF9-IK-qTYAoNrdFw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="418px;" height="236px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">1) The Last of Us</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">From its original announcement in late 2011, I had high hopes for </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Uncharted </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">series is one of my all time favorites, and the idea of the creative team behind those games starting a new, post-apocalyptic IP had high support from me. &nbsp;And now, two years later, my high expectations were fulfilled in full. &nbsp;With a brilliant story, shocking visuals, and tense gameplay, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">sets a bar for the next generation of gaming. &nbsp;The tale of Joel and Ellie&rsquo;s trek across a brilliantly realized post apocalyptic America is engaging and deep. &nbsp;The characters and their relationships are unlike any seen in gaming before. &nbsp;The gameplay creates a sense of tension and fear that is fitting for the dreary story being told. &nbsp;The graphics are...well, I can only say that it is hard to believe Naughty Dog managed to fit this game on the PS3. &nbsp;When put together, all of these aspects make one thing clear: for me, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">was the best game released in 2013.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QNJSJE0hJwg4fxebcULpUZC7B_wK-mqzQP02wtoFRFBrXc-fJyMaQRuUQJpdCppHMWLfUShZE4Bo9NyiychAMi9XXrs-QBH9f66t1oGZCsTLeIiCb4vMIVZgPQ" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="346px;" height="217px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And now...Honorable Mentions and the Stuff I Didn&#39;t Like!</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QrsPXvxCbAMTewKlH7ORp-oMPyRbaezeyfaRnDCxlusVhfNlDBel_UhzKvwMpCe27MpkbRphFXlAaZqMF4pA6nYTKp_K13BecUmaFdxiH40oneNBguatB9JjZw" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="228px;" height="277px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And there it is! &nbsp;My top ten of 2013, complete with reviews &lsquo;n&rsquo; stuff. &nbsp;However, I&rsquo;m not quite done. &nbsp;There were five games from 2013 that I played but did not place on this list, four of which I&rsquo;m happy to call &ldquo;honorable mentions.&rdquo; &nbsp;Okay, so&hellip;more reviews!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration:underline;">Honorable Mentions</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration:underline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">DMC: Devil May Cry</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This reboot was my first experience with the popular hack &lsquo;n&rsquo; slash series </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Devil May Cry,</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> and one that I fully enjoyed. &nbsp;Though it didn&rsquo;t end up on the final list due to some story, character, and style issues that I had with the title, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">DMC: Devil May Cry </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is still a very enjoyable game. &nbsp;Learning the combos and revisiting old areas is a pretty good time, as is experimenting with new weapons. &nbsp;Overall, while not one of my favorite experiences of the year, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">DMC: Devil May Cry </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is still a fun romp and an enjoyable action game.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ridiculous Fishing</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Every year, I have at least one addiction to some mobile game. &nbsp;In 2013, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ridiculous Fishing </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">was that addiction. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ridiculous Fishing </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">simply contains everything that I want from a mobile game- tight controls, a &ldquo;play, unlock, play again&rdquo; loop that isn&rsquo;t hidden behind loopholes and in-app purchases, and a sense of humor that is subtle and well-done. &nbsp;The fish designs are diverse, the bosses are brilliant (I&rsquo;m still &ldquo;reeling&rdquo; from the utter ridiculousness of the final boss), and the unlockables are just tangible enough to give the game an addictive, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m about to unlock something awesome&rdquo; feel. &nbsp;All in all, while not the freshest or most engaging experience of 2013, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ridiculous Fishing </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is still a great game to own on iOS.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/vpoMVtgKuGLxHqzfaC_aU88IubWsRmYB5VNuTS0YY4CfzSb67fvpvWDmnqOTciZW_pZn5F-gWt4HlSMKXtrr9c_LbkPJS1MaXMqs6n5M63jG-MBD-s0mE31D-w" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="302px;" height="201px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Device 6</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I almost put </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Device 6 </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">on my &ldquo;real&rdquo; list. &nbsp;The iOS title is mysterious, well written, original, and intriguing. &nbsp;The way in which its story, told mostly through text, images, and audio, slowly unfolds is engrossing. &nbsp;The developer, Simogo (who has a track record for brilliant iOS games, including Swedish folk tale-inspired </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Year Walk</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">), took pains to make sure that the puzzles in the game were difficult and clever, yet not frustrating. &nbsp;This works well, for the game would likely be negatively affected by the introduction of frustrating puzzles. &nbsp;Overall, </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Device 6 </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is a title with a great story told in a brilliant way that is definitely worth playing.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Tomb Raider </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Device 6, Tomb Raider </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">almost made the list. &nbsp;The experience boasts fully competent shooting, impressive set pieces, clean visuals, and an interesting Metroidvania-esque backtracking system. &nbsp;However, for a title that places so much focus on crafting its main character, the character development and story sorta suck. &nbsp;In addition, the supporting characters lack substance or likability, creating a lack of connection between them and the player. &nbsp;In addition, the game is nigh on misogynistic, complete with violent deaths for Lara at every turn. &nbsp;Despite these things, it can&rsquo;t be denied that </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Tomb Raider </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">has some set pieces and shooting mechanics that are very well done. &nbsp;For these reasons, I still believe it to be a game very much worth playing.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mb0CW7H9eHYFZub8D1gEBOv5IwqBO4rlhVp74mQQdGMBnkp08mWxzdTnLV2g-dTtXOw6klLJan1GkPsmpMIiFqMvv6TOW7FnjWtvGcg8bmPvWMTtU3IH1t1AFA" style="border:0px solid transparent;" width="340px;" height="213px;" alt="" /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration:underline;">Games From 2013 That I Played But Didn&rsquo;t Love</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;text-decoration:underline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond: Two Souls</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">really </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">wanted to like </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond: Two Souls. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I love the idea of telling a mature story of a character&rsquo;s life and development through difficult times. &nbsp;However, I simply couldn&rsquo;t support the final product of </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond: Two Souls. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">While certain sections were interesting, the majority felt either corny, lazy, or inconsequential to a plot that is honestly pretty lackluster. &nbsp;The characters are mostly flat, complete with dialogue that covers every cliche since the dawn of entertainment. &nbsp;The story, which is supposedly the reason to play the game, is laughably predictable. &nbsp;In addition, it jumps around in both tone and ideas so often that keeping up is almost impossible. &nbsp;Honestly, I wouldn&rsquo;t recommend playing </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond: Two Souls. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Besides looking sorta pretty, the game doesn&rsquo;t have much going for it.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Still there? &nbsp;Great. &nbsp;Thanks for reading, it is much appreciated. &nbsp;These were all the games I played in 2013. &nbsp;Some I loved, some I did not. &nbsp;However, I&rsquo;m happy to have had almost all of the experiences. &nbsp;While I&rsquo;m sure this list could have been different had I been able to find more time to game (A Link Between Worlds, how you doin&rsquo;?), this is what I got in. &nbsp;The year was great, I played some awesome games, and the variety within them is impressive and shows that the gaming industry still has plenty of originality and heart. &nbsp;In a world of sequels and lazy releases, this fact is reassuring and inspiring.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">2013, you were awesome. Thanks.</span></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6549852" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxOn "Cool" Games and "Quality" Games/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/10/31/on-quot-cool-quot-games-and-quot-quality-quot-games.aspx2013-10-31T21:37:00Z2013-10-31T21:37:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-2f128657-106e-ec4f-d42c-f5893d3e07c7"><img style="margin-top:105px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://corruptedcartridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/The_Stanley_Parable_Intro_00.jpg" height="228" width="423" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Note: In this blog, I do my best to avoid spoilers for </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">However, discussion of the manner of storytelling and a few of its goals are present. &nbsp;Tread carefully.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A few days ago, I caught wind of an indie game known as </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;The project, developed primarily by two men, is aimed to question the typical, linear storytelling methods of video games. &nbsp;Without treading on spoiler territory for the game (which I highly recommend playing), I will simply say that it is highly impressive. &nbsp;The experience has seemingly endless branching paths and endings to explore, each with different messages for the player to receive. &nbsp;The title also owes much of its success to the writing, which is both witty and thought-provoking without feeling jaded or forced. &nbsp;By the end of a few playthroughs (a necessity to fully understand the game&rsquo;s intentions), one will come away questioning the current status of video game storytelling and wondering if the themes presented in </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">could be implemented into other games in order to create experiences that are both more personal and long-lasting.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In case you couldn&rsquo;t tell, I was astounded by the lofty goals that </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">managed to achieve. &nbsp;The possible stories, witty dialogue, obvious parodies, and overall commentary on the state of gaming enamored me. &nbsp;And then, after seeing most of what the game had to offer and being satisfied with the experience, I sat back and thought &ldquo;Huh, that was a very </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">cool </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">experience.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rXXC4s15CSlJ26HrVq8aZBj5NLUUcaqbOIrJ9OQvrC71zVT-3jP02MC31Zrwtbob60XFjslgftl2vsRnsfvquthlKclUwBqI1PouAglwXNxJamWgvVLlYl09" height="213px;" width="379px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Not &ldquo;That was a fantastic game&rdquo; or &ldquo;Some of the mechanics here were really well done&rdquo; or even &ldquo;Those graphics were spectacular.&rdquo; &nbsp;No; when I completed </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I called it a &ldquo;</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">cool </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">experience.&rdquo; &nbsp;However, I pondered, what could have made me consider the title </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&ldquo;cool&rdquo; </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">as opposed to </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&ldquo;good&rdquo; </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">or </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&ldquo;quality?&rdquo; &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Was it the dialogue of the ever present narrator? &nbsp;Was it the branching paths and reactive story? &nbsp;The secrets and empowering feeling a player received when finding them? &nbsp;Could it have been a conjunction of all these facets? &nbsp;Or, perhaps, none of these aspects at all?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To find the source of this questioning, I first brought to mind some examples of games that are widely considered high in &ldquo;quality.&rdquo; &nbsp;This year alone, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock Infinite </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">have been called &ldquo;high quality&rdquo; &nbsp;by several publications. &nbsp;Of course, these are titles that were developed by huge teams with gargantuan budgets, while </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">was developed with what two men could garner. &nbsp;While I don&rsquo;t believe that this necessarily creates a distinction between &ldquo;cool&rdquo; and &ldquo;good,&rdquo; it is still a good thing to point out.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Now, what do these two titles have that </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">does not (or vice versa)? &nbsp;Both are very well rounded experiences, so to speak. &nbsp;Each has a focus on story, but is also proficient in other aspects of gaming, such as gunplay and graphics (in fact, many would call </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">the most graphically impressive game on consoles). &nbsp;Both force the player to connect with the characters presented, going along with them for the entirety of a story. &nbsp;None of these traits are necessarily new or original for the gaming industry, but the finesse with which each title pulls them together and successfully creates an experience around them is deserving of much praise.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:0px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.cinemablend.com/images/gallery/s56276/Last_Of_Us_13701172911614.jpg" height="174" width="311" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">So, in a lot of ways, both titles manage to bring several facets of game design (story, gameplay, graphics, etc.) together into a single experience. &nbsp;When they (or any others) are successful, many gamers are astounded. &nbsp;However, beyond the obvious bringing together of gameplay elements, I&rsquo;d also argue that both </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock Infinite </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">do something else entirely to gain respect with gamers: they bridge the gap between cinema and gaming. &nbsp;With an obvious focus on storytelling and characters, each experience often feels movie-like as opposed to &ldquo;gamey.&rdquo; &nbsp;Therefore, the games aren&rsquo;t necessarily doing </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">new </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">things, but are doing things that </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">are </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">new for the gaming industry. &nbsp;They aren&rsquo;t questioning gaming, but simply bridging a gap, a feat which I&rsquo;m likely oversimplifying. &nbsp;Regardless, I believe that this is why I classify these titles as &ldquo;quality&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;cool.&rdquo; &nbsp;Even with this classification, however, I still haven&rsquo;t made it clear why I&rsquo;d call </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">as the latter.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">has a clear identity from its onset. &nbsp;Within the opening minutes, the player realizes exactly what he or she is in for: an experience with wit, writing, and commentary. &nbsp;While I won&rsquo;t go into the nature of the narration, storytelling, and commentary on the gaming industry, I will say that these elements (which are the game&rsquo;s basis) make for an experience that is immensely thought-provoking. &nbsp;At few (if any) points will the player ask themselves either &ldquo;What does this game borrow from similar titles?&rdquo; or &ldquo;How does this game bring about advancement for the industry?&rdquo; &nbsp;No; if anything, the player is asking themselves &ldquo;What makes this feel so </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">different?</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:0px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.outlookaddressbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/guide.jpg" height="227" width="302" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And there, I believe, lies the heart of my distinction between &nbsp;&ldquo;cool&rdquo; and &ldquo;different.&rdquo; &nbsp;While </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Grand Theft Auto V </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">are games that manage to become proficient in many areas of game design (a feat that multitudes of developers aspire to reach), none do anything particularly </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">different. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This doesn&rsquo;t mean that the titles are not outstanding, it just means that they manage to pull off many things that have already been imagined.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Conversely, </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Stanley Parable </span><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">throws all of this out. &nbsp;At no point does it attempt to become challenging or to perfect any established ideas of game design. &nbsp;Instead, it spends its few hours critiquing and commenting upon the player, his or her hobby, and the gaming industry as a whole. &nbsp;When it is successful, the player is likely to sit back and ponder, as these emotions aren&rsquo;t typically something that they associate with traditional video games. &nbsp;So, by doing something unexpected and new, a game can reach &ldquo;cool&rdquo; status.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In my lifetime, I hope to never see the end of innovation in the gaming industry. &nbsp;At no point do I believe that new ideas and mechanics will stop being introduced, regardless of whether they are more or less common. &nbsp;With that said, I&rsquo;d also predict that games will continue to perfect already established formulas, wowing gamers regardless of whether the experiences are &ldquo;new&rdquo; or &ldquo;original.&rdquo; &nbsp;However, I believe that my tendency to classify games as either &ldquo;cool&rdquo; or &ldquo;quality&rdquo; is a direct response to the goals of said game. &nbsp;For me, a game that attempts new things and doesn&rsquo;t spend a lot of time attempting to perfect and force every little thing can be considered &ldquo;cool.&rdquo; &nbsp;Conversely, those that perfect established formulas are higher on the &ldquo;quality&rdquo; scale. &nbsp;The distinction might seem moderately trivial, but I believe that it is one that could become crucial in the years to come.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6102964" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxWhy GTA Online's Rocky Launch Has Few Parallels to SimCity's/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/10/24/why-gta-online-39-s-rocky-launch-has-few-parallels-to-simcity-39-s.aspx2013-10-24T21:04:00Z2013-10-24T21:04:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-06c08fd8-ec46-0153-49e5-34c84c6aef59"><img style="margin-top:109px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://media.edge-online.com/wp-content/uploads/edgeonline/2013/08/GTA-Online.jpg" height="192" width="343" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">On September 17th, millions of people rushed to stores with the intent of purchasing Grand Theft Auto V. &nbsp;The title managed to break numerous entertainment sales records, garnering $800 million in sales after a single day, and a billion soon after. &nbsp;National news outlets- be it through television broadcasts or the Internet or newspapers- ran stories about the monumental success, increasing the game&rsquo;s publicity. &nbsp;And, beyond the commercial success, GTA V is currently one of the highest rated games of all time, averaging a 97 on Metacritic. &nbsp;With the surge of publicity, commercial and critical success, and abundance of goodwill from players, it seemed as if Grand Theft Auto V&rsquo;s momentum couldn&rsquo;t be stopped.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EIyxCCGAc64zalTLZ72U2gPj1Txm_YMVnpsz9BwnN8O0sGZ28dTDVjVz9to4G-jyWC6MpqzEXa36iACF0ovGAbRNZKz4nzdFU3pz9c5wIsqGNw6Q9pSoWQNkUw" height="253" width="380" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Take-Two is bringing in plenty of this.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And then, on October 1st, Grand Theft Auto Online (the online component of GTA V) made its debut. &nbsp;Immediately, reports surfaced of crashing games, deleted characters, lobby-kicking, and numerous other issues. &nbsp;With the outstanding success of the game, one might have guessed that these issues would arise when millions of players attempted to access Rockstar&rsquo;s servers. &nbsp;However, this didn&rsquo;t make the problems any less disappointing when they did manage to occur. &nbsp;Fans quickly flew to message boards, where they voiced their displeasure despite acknowledging that they had expected the issues beforehand.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Many pondered whether or not the issues should anger them, seeing as how Rockstar had already delivered a huge single player game and was in no way obligated to have a bug-free multiplayer launch. &nbsp;On one hand, players couldn&rsquo;t understand why a beta wasn&rsquo;t put forward in order to smooth out these issues before launch. &nbsp;That said, the developer also clearly wanted to surprise consumers with the scope and density of GTA Online, a prospect that could have been ruined by having beta tests. &nbsp;With these things understood, combined with the presence of the already brilliant single player, many consumers ignored the multiplayer&rsquo;s issues in lieu of simply waiting for a fix to come. &nbsp;As opposed to the typical attitude of &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s get angry because our stuff doesn&rsquo;t work,&rdquo; the majority of people simply accepted the problems and didn&rsquo;t whine over them.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KzD94X0EMe0hpwDxW9TBN6pl696FL5Bx4XSy5GbtuWJ8Sq7EG3wdObhS1etNryMeJIxK_E6COScZOw974vjk7Grb0xHvGOjPhUujX5ZsV74Qg5ZG6dw2-jxwvQ" height="287px;" width="287px;" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Players of GTA Online got over its shortcomings rather easily.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To many simply observing, this acceptance was mistakenly interpreted as players giving Rockstar a &ldquo;free pass&rdquo; on supposed laziness due to their pedigree as a developer. &nbsp;Proponents of this notion pointed to the launches of titles such as SimCity or Diablo 3, which caused giant uproars both when they were announced to be online-only and then when server issues became commonplace at launch. &nbsp;Basically, many accused the gaming community of being hypocritical for blasting hate on the rocky launch of a title such as SimCity (the publisher of which is EA, a company known to be widely disliked by gamers) and then ignoring the shortcomings of GTA Online due to the developer&rsquo;s pedigree.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">As I see it, however, the responses to these two problem-plagued launches have little to nothing in common with each other. &nbsp;To show why this is, I must go back to last year, when Maxis announced that SimCity would require a constant Internet connection in order to be played. &nbsp;Within seconds, fans were up-in-arms over the decision. &nbsp;Why should a title that has historically focused on single player require an Internet connection? &nbsp;Even with a larger focus on connection and cooperation with the newest entry, why did Maxis and EA feel the need to </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">force </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">the requirement on players?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/V6Ju2N_lLWc-Icyi0N4IpKyOn4442fTNtgXV4zdSUc7siNJkNjjdH_-mS2wXPvDwWX3KFs04bUGTmWOerEQ0ChdsrQTMU_LOj-0Qlqi8r04EONS11fdV1I4hMw" height="206px;" width="279px;" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">As a general rule, people don&rsquo;t like being forced into things.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Of course, the immediate reaction was that the companies made the decision purely out of greed. &nbsp;With a consistent connection, EA and Maxis could dramatically lower the number of pirated copies of their game from being downloaded. &nbsp;While the sentiment isn&rsquo;t greedy, the method was viewed as such. &nbsp;If only a minority was causing offense, then why were the majority being punished? &nbsp;With this mentality, protests became abundant. &nbsp;EA claimed that the title was focused on connection and multiplayer, leading to the decision to create an online-only experience. &nbsp;However, single player was still a heavy portion of the game, so (gamers thought) why must we be forced away from it?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A launch brimming with crashes, glitches, and bugs was just the icing on the cake. &nbsp;Those who had been against the &ldquo;always-online&rdquo; requirement suddenly had smiles on their faces, as they were watching EA struggle to fix the problems their perceived &ldquo;greed&rdquo; had caused. &nbsp;An &ldquo;I told you so&rdquo; mentality was the norm, creating a difficult situation for EA and Maxis. &nbsp;In summary, gamers&rsquo; satisfaction following the catastrophic effects of a widely ill-regarded decision resulted in rampant outcries and vitriol.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The launch of GTA Online had nearly nothing in common. &nbsp;Obviously, server overload caused many similar </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">issues</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, but the </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">reaction</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> to said issues couldn&rsquo;t have been more different. &nbsp;In the case of SimCity, gamers were angry and smug. &nbsp;With GTA Online, players were accepting, understanding, and forgiving. &nbsp;Why?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MkhBlVDuNH7zkWUxAHYzgB7qmQm3l49mm3Zydwj5tNg99a5UZnTeFiv54eD1eY1l9Ukk9NIpc3bh6H8tNS3nw9CaO0eY4rK-OHVV46vb6_JcIa7CGlwqfrwohw" height="277px;" width="277px;" alt="" /></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Are we all being hypocritical?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The answer lies in the nature of each game. &nbsp;With SimCity, players expected a title with some multiplayer elements, but with a majority focus on the single player. &nbsp;GTA Online has always been understood to be a purely online, multiplayer experience. &nbsp;Therefore, in contrast to SimCity&rsquo;s launch, players only felt </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">sad</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> when GTA Online was released. &nbsp;They didn&rsquo;t feel like the developer was doing anything to hurt them, but that the developer had simply made a mistake. &nbsp;While this isn&rsquo;t, from Rockstar&rsquo;s view, a very positive mindset for their players to be subjected to, it is better than having your players feel cheated or wronged. &nbsp;Angry people will make themselves heard, while sad or disappointed people will oftentimes just move on. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In conclusion, we can&rsquo;t base the reaction to GTA Online&rsquo;s rocky launch purely on Rockstar&rsquo;s pedigree or track record. &nbsp;While the fact that GTA V is impressive and brilliant obviously lessens the blow of a poor launch, it doesn&rsquo;t become the sole reason for softer reception. &nbsp;No, the lack of angry outcry towards GTA Online&rsquo;s release came not from a sense of loyalty, but a sense of </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">sadness. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Players were saddened by the inability to check out the innovative mode, but felt in no way </span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">cheated. &nbsp;</span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Rockstar did what they needed to do (minus, arguably, some broader testing) in order to deliver a great multiplayer experience. &nbsp;They just had some slip-ups along the way, and even the famously inflammatory Internet managed to understand this. &nbsp;And, as a result, the reaction to the launch of GTA Online had few parallels to that of SimCity.</span></span></span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:16px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=5723207" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxBrothers's Density Is Its Greatest Strength...and Weakness/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/10/17/brothers-39-s-density-is-its-greatest-strength-and-weakness.aspx2013-10-18T00:59:00Z2013-10-18T00:59:00Z<p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:80px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://static.squarespace.com/static/50d0fc0ae4b0c75e54db0249/t/52049565e4b0423262030a6d/1376032102797/Title.jpg" height="287" width="458" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A few nights ago, I had a rare three hours of free time. &nbsp;Seeing as how I haven&rsquo;t played many games as of late, I decided to spend the time with my PS3. &nbsp;I had heard and read many reports that </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, developed by Starbreeze Studios and released this summer, was a relatively short title that promised an engaging story with several interesting puzzles and gameplay hooks, as well as beautiful environments to explore. &nbsp;With this info, I decided to give the game a download, and was playing before long.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Note: This blog will contain slight spoilers for the storytelling methods and gameplay mechanics of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">However, no large plot points will be discussed.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond what I mentioned above, I really didn&rsquo;t know much about the game. &nbsp;I had a general idea of the setting, which is fantastical and reminiscent of a stereotypical fairy tale, but knew little about the characters or plot. &nbsp;I was unaware of the most significant gameplay innovation (which involves controlling two characters simultaneously at all times), which led to greater anticipation as the game began. &nbsp;In many ways, I was expecting a title similar to </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Journey</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, where the plot is rather open ended, and most of the emotional appeal varies from player to player. &nbsp;Also in a similar vein to </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Journey</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, I expected a world with jaw-dropping environments, and perhaps even a few breathtaking set piece moments. &nbsp;I expected a title that was somewhat similar, but also original.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/N2874QySolSIxV2Nfe4z8iyp_ggXA6NIZM9sE5e49nTmBaaog6EXeqaVFTt4Qs36iTDhGvDXEJAx24FQeptctHNYnGKiFjULUEhAdMhuwL6zsBsibDVAGRqk" height="233px;" width="414px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The world of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is beautiful and filled with interesting creatures.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">What I found, much to my delight, was an experience with more density and direction, and with a level of originality that I would have never expected to be present. &nbsp;I found an experience different from any others I had found in gaming, as opposed to another artsy copycat with little identity of its own. &nbsp;While these things originally astounded me, I found, upon closer examination, that some of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&rsquo;s attempts at seeming dense worked both in its favor at some points, but largely to its detriment at others.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Let me begin by idealizing and defining this &ldquo;density&rdquo; that I keep referencing, as the concept may be misleading otherwise. &nbsp;Many critics and players have been comparing </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> to similarly emotion-inducing titles, such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Journey</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> or </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Proteus</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;They often cite the attempts, made by each game, to form an emotional bond with the player through the use of creative art styles, open ended stories, atmospheric worlds, and (oftentimes) music that defines the mood, among other things. &nbsp;Also called out when discussing obvious similarities are the breakaways from conventional gaming that each title displays. &nbsp;There are next to no games that resemble Journey being sold for $60 at your local retailer because (in simplest terms) they do not appeal to the masses.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Sr6bnLSufXcBziKRoJpQKnPLh9EZm1g3VcLOT9u3m8IMn7EArcRh9_KyakLWz1gxvEg7Fv0VbcrA7jD8mpg-vAJHGotKeStZ7V_QncDr3Rnzk74P71_biuUj" height="261px;" width="247px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Similarly to this cube, the game is filled with different components.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">With that said, I believe that </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">goes&hellip;further, in a way, than either Proteus or Journey. &nbsp;While each of the latter titles is rather ambiguous and open ended, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> tells a story that is very clear cut, containing a beginning, middle, and end. &nbsp;There is less in the way of hidden themes, and a stronger focus on delivering a narrative that forces players to become attached to the characters and breathtaking world, as opposed to a reaction reliant on a purely atmospheric environment. &nbsp;In addition, the gameplay of </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">reaches further than either Proteus or Journey. &nbsp;Players are often tasked with puzzles that, while simplistic, still add a game-y flair to the experience. &nbsp;Beyond this, though, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">gameplay is actually </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">innovative. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Players control a pair of characters at the same time, in essence turning the game into single player co-op. &nbsp;This is a concept explored not only by few indies, but also very few AAA titles. &nbsp;By having a deeper, more clear cut story and a focus on gameplay integration and innovation, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">manages to set itself apart from many other &ldquo;artsy&rdquo; games.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">While the lengths went to in order to make </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">become a deeper game are undeniably commendable, some of the work ultimately, in my opinion, is to the detriment of the overall experience. &nbsp;For instance, the lauded gameplay hook of tasking players with navigation of two characters begins by feeling unwieldy, and ends feeling simply alright. &nbsp;I </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">did </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">become used to the controls, but never felt as if I had mastered them. &nbsp;Similarly on the gameplay end of the spectrum, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers&rsquo;s </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">attempts at creating engaging puzzles begin to falter around the halfway point. &nbsp;Many are repeated, breaking the focus a player could otherwise be spending on appreciating the visuals or plot of the game.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h7sagXYUo6pR4Rbpz-zg0rzyboDXSnZfunpnwOwA0xK9aP-NHrgTkmqz2WiOBUHi7dn4NqyS1ws0gsBMV2EKlrFDklL6b8KL4FjDNh4IbHVcIHbrVZ_-7OyK" height="264px;" width="264px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The puzzles are sometimes interesting, but become repetitive.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The story and world, I would argue, don&rsquo;t suffer the same fate. &nbsp;As opposed to creating an atmospheric environment with moody tunes (which can oftentimes be effective), </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">works to build a world and characters that the player can fully endorse. &nbsp;This is a difficult task, but one that I feel the developer pulled off well. &nbsp;By the end, I felt as if I had just watched a complete story unfold and understood the world in which it took place. &nbsp;For only lasting a measly three hours, this is quite an accomplishment.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is a title that I&rsquo;d recommend to anyone. &nbsp;The experience is dark, emotional, and surprisingly deep. &nbsp;A complete tale is told and an entire world is established. &nbsp;While comparable to games such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Limbo </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">or </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Journey, Brothers </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">also manages to set itself through the use of effective storytelling, gorgeous visuals, and engaging gameplay hooks. &nbsp;The idea of controlling two characters simultaneously is intriguing, even if somewhat flawed in practice. &nbsp;While the game </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">does </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">suffer from somewhat egregious attempts to innovate, it is still a much more than worthwhile experience. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:&#39;Times New Roman&#39;;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=5422699" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxDo We Even Need to Play Anymore?/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/10/06/do-we-even-need-to-play-anymore.aspx2013-10-07T00:44:00Z2013-10-07T00:44:00Z<p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:0px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://bobmorris.biz/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Hourglass.jpg" height="395" width="395" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I haven&rsquo;t posted a blog in nearly a month. &nbsp;With school, sports, and various other activities, being able to sit down and write is sometimes hard to do. &nbsp;Similarly, and perhaps even more importantly, I haven&rsquo;t played a single game since the time of my last posting. &nbsp;I picked up GTA V and a Humble Bundle, but haven&rsquo;t been able to partake in either. &nbsp;My backlog is growing larger, and my available playtime is shrinking. &nbsp;I still pay careful attention to gaming news, and continue to watch what games are being played and talked about, but have little time to partake in the conversation or to write about what I&rsquo;m thinking. &nbsp;I would love to sit down and fall into GTA V, but that is simply unrealistic. &nbsp;I am running out of time to just enjoy playing video games, and don&rsquo;t know when I&rsquo;ll accumulate some more.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">However, I don&rsquo;t know that I need to.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">On a weekly basis, I typically listen to 7-8 podcasts dedicated to the gaming world. &nbsp;While no single episode covers every topic, the culmination of shows lets me stay pretty up to date on the industry&rsquo;s &ldquo;current events&rdquo;, so to speak. &nbsp;&ldquo;But wait,&rdquo; you might ask, &ldquo;how can you manage to spend 10 hours listening to podcasts every week, but can&rsquo;t go play a game or write?&rdquo; &nbsp;And the simple answer is that I listen while riding a bus or running or some other mundane task. &nbsp;The casts are simply background noise.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uVNE13cy9NP_0pzAK0jpvk6dY3m748WcWK_B-eLPHGZ-J9SMHWMi1Ss3zhtFbxTPkLJNGqavrMUNbDTkATdxjIZQ11rZkebdiI7XkSwCpWFCDK7mtBl9Zyf-" height="242px;" width="242px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Keeps me informed.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And furthermore, on a daily basis (sometimes several times daily) I peruse both Game Informer and IGN, and even occasionally dabble in Polygon&rsquo;s coverage. &nbsp;I read articles and interviews, watch videos, and scroll through comments to maintain an understanding of what people are currently gawking over. &nbsp;In almost every way, my methods of staying caught up with the industry haven&rsquo;t changed since the time, not so long ago, when I could spend six hours per day playing Civilization V. &nbsp;I&rsquo;m no less informed, yet I feel a weaker connection as a result of less time spent playing and writing. &nbsp;Is this necessary?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In today&rsquo;s world, any knowledge, information, or data about the gaming industry is available with a couple mouse clicks. &nbsp;Moreover, opinions and deliberations are numerous, and can be located in an equally simple way. &nbsp;Reviews, podcasts, and blogs are abundant, providing a huge berth of other people&rsquo;s thoughts to ingest. &nbsp;We are more connected than ever, and so much of gaming is now about the conversations and discussions, not about the actual playing of games. &nbsp;I would guess that 90% of people who played Gone Home sprinted to a message board immediately after completing it. &nbsp;I certainly did. &nbsp;Discussion has become half of the experience for many.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/N47vgMDmYbU907CmO_SCe9tr9LkHeYGtYx0MbMlcaU1SxIo0RXb8AQzR4t2HPS47TqYeV-6PMyQQS7IajyCRobOJ5e_DkSOh49-LmqGLZo_YTGZBfRa46eT9" height="237px;" width="420px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">No longer do we just play- now, we discuss.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Yet, is the actual playing of the game required? &nbsp;Could one save the time and money used to actually have the experience, and instead try to mimic the feeling of playing the game by reading about it and then discussing it with others? &nbsp;Or, to fully appreciate the accomplishments of a title such as Gone Home, must one attentively play through its entire duration? &nbsp;Can we be considered &ldquo;gamers&rdquo; as nothing more than secondary sources?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">These questions are the basis for the dilemma that I&rsquo;m trying to portray in this blog. &nbsp;In today&rsquo;s world, I don&rsquo;t know if being a &ldquo;gamer&rdquo; requires all that much playing of games. &nbsp;With the influx of blogs, web coverage, message boards, and podcasts, one can learn about and be part of a conversation without playing often. &nbsp;A person can appreciate (or not) the goings-on of the industry without partaking in its products. &nbsp;That person would become more of an observer than partaker, but would likely not feel overly isolated nevertheless. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ppknG7_olcdnS1jPSZZH35t9Cofp2mu1U_44eY41G6FlS2p_jtsmovl2lYlBs_WCALJdVlzLsyh5LdvC0hssmGuvLh-t3pfPcV5E1JsFbL4NYnn0GQ40d0b9" height="233px;" width="356px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Should we care if we aren&rsquo;t taking part?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">With that said, I wouldn&rsquo;t call the playing of games completely unnecessary. &nbsp;If anything, I would call them complementary to the self contained experience that is keeping up with the conversation and watching the industry evolve. &nbsp;Playing games keeps us connected, emotionally and mentally, to the industry that we adore. &nbsp;Sitting through several missions of GTA V gets us excited to talk to others about their experiences, whereas simply reading about the missions leads to interest, but with less excitement. &nbsp;And, beyond that, forming personal opinions about games and genres is difficult when you don&rsquo;t spend much time </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">actually</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">playing games.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NFO4XjNWWYAbbERkkqShoslMvoVITmAlrYKOLTG2iUb1eEbmuPRGF_RKWnu0RROpYbHxgYBtynZcjs--c2iVyCMXqBFCqY6Xa7DfUWv0yVP_M9IY4vzBkitm" height="176px;" width="192px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">If we aren&rsquo;t playing, are our opinions useless?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In the end, I don&rsquo;t have much time. &nbsp;I play when I can, and write when I&rsquo;m free. &nbsp;Nevertheless, even when I don&rsquo;t have the time, I never stop keeping up with the current events of the gaming world, and still feel connected as a result. &nbsp;I don&rsquo;t feel the excitement and enthusiasm of one whom has just completed a particularly exciting mission in a title, but I can still discuss the moments from a less engaged point of view. &nbsp;I can observe and get excited about the evolution of the gaming world, even if my connection with it won&rsquo;t be as personal. &nbsp;I can still watch, write, and enjoy, but from a purely observatory point of view. &nbsp;And, while it isn&rsquo;t perfect, I prefer it to abandoning gaming altogether.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=5010956" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxAre We Ready?/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/09/04/are-we-ready.aspx2013-09-05T00:01:00Z2013-09-05T00:01:00Z<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:120px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://live.regnumchristi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ready-set-go-new.jpg" height="322" width="528" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">If a poll of gamers was taken, with the question of &ldquo;What is the least desirable aspect of your hobby?&rdquo;, I would venture to guess that many would respond with &ldquo;My public perception.&rdquo; &nbsp;Avid video game fans are often imagined, both by individuals and society, as lazy, unproductive, power-craving, flat-out disgusting people. &nbsp;They&rsquo;re often ridiculed and mocked by those unfamiliar with the hobby, and are honestly just not very well represented. &nbsp;Many argue that this is a result of games being viewed as entertainment for children, prompting many to feel that most gamers simply need to &ldquo;grow up.&rdquo; &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Obviously, in today&rsquo;s world, that is not the case. &nbsp;Games are created more often than not with adults in mind, many including detailed stories and complex gameplay systems. &nbsp;More and more, large titles are expanding (both in gameplay and story) into realms that are on the same level as many books or movies, tackling subjects such as social issues and character relationships. &nbsp;As a result, a large push has been made to make the public aware that we &ldquo;aren&rsquo;t the stereotype,&rdquo; and that gaming is a legitimately interesting and useful form of entertainment. &nbsp;In some ways, the efforts have been successful. &nbsp;With titles such as Call of Duty or Angry Birds, the public has come to accept video games as a part of society, regardless of their personal interest level. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/etTKpGT6P6GzX3e-lG-IniUYssbstB6y6G_87_ttHL_RH_-Sxv4AC6w52h1OEYO5yr59leL4T7LU4TUHrWi4SMj05klgfwTtQ--ZcPQ3_FMJHsBU3SoqRQQr" height="206px;" width="309px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Like it or not, these guys are bringing gaming into the mainstream.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">However, the stigma has not gone away. &nbsp;While a normal person won&rsquo;t judge another harshly for playing a level or two of Cut The Rope, they often find fault in those whom actively keep up with the gaming industry, or simply play games on a regular basis. &nbsp;The push to gain acceptance continues, and is spearheaded by gamers that look to games such as Journey or Bioshock to prove that games can be more than &ldquo;pew-jump-pew-jump.&rdquo; &nbsp;However, </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">while being accepted and appreciated might seem attractive on the surface, I&rsquo;m not sure that we&rsquo;re ready, and have several reasons why.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To better understand why I&rsquo;m not sure gaming is ready to become a completely accepted hobby, let&rsquo;s look at a few of the last month&rsquo;s big releases. &nbsp;The first biggie that comes to mind would have to be</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Saints Row IV. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&nbsp;The title is widely praised for not taking itself seriously even slightly, engaging players with various oddball activities such as battling aliens while wielding a &ldquo;dubstep gun.&rdquo; &nbsp;This refusal to include realism allows the developers to experiment in any way they desire, and the end result is a game that is imaginative and fun, yet crude and brimming with teenage humor that would be looked down on by many. &nbsp;So, while the game is honestly very fun to play, and really emcompasses what makes games enjoyable for multitudes of people, it isn&rsquo;t something that I would show to the public with an expectation that they&rsquo;d want to bow down and recognize games as &ldquo;worthy&rdquo; of their time.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/v_vQ9NyNzPAu9s3MF3K6koOC_N0hkl3FzpDKVcOkOkEhCGLy1h-w1Nu-DiIYYm_MgkgEA8ZziIr4WYyBvfj4HUcBv_vBCAkDcCIe01YOk0SMRSjWRF0jkQAu" height="228px;" width="365px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I mean, how could you </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">not </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">take this seriously?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Or, for an even more obvious example, take a gander at Suda51&rsquo;s newest production, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Killer Is Dead</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;For those that are unaware, the heavily-stylized action hack-n-slash game has been condemned by reviewers everywhere in the past week for its portrayal of women, especially in the title&rsquo;s &ldquo;Gigolo&rdquo; missions. &nbsp;In this mode, players are tasked with gazing upon a woman&rsquo;s breast or legs while she looks away, with the end goal of gaining her affection, giving her presents, and taking her home. &nbsp;The mode is basically required for completing the game, as acquisition of key weapons is impossible without engagement. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Honestly, I don&rsquo;t even need to identify the problem there, and it should be brutally clear why this is a huge hurdle for a normal person looking to understand gamers. &nbsp;&ldquo;But wait,&rdquo; you might say, &ldquo;that isn&rsquo;t the norm. &nbsp;The majority of games look at women positively.&rdquo; &nbsp;And, when compared to most other games, you&rsquo;d be right. &nbsp;However, that doesn&rsquo;t others from blame completely. &nbsp;In a world that has become obsessed with viewing women with strength and worth equal to that of men, we still have multitudes of games that portray women purely as things to be saved, seduced, or supported in some other way. &nbsp;While some, such as Mirror&rsquo;s Edge, The Last of Us, and Uncharted throw women into leadership positions, many others use females as the stereotypical &ldquo;damsel in distress&rdquo; with few unique qualities. &nbsp;And, with the focus on women that is so prevalent in the world today, presenting these patterns to the general crowd will likely not be met with optimal reception.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/F9F9OY1ywgleRo_aQp2JKmyqKj4RZo_FN93SsJJMfvTjgG1pDTAseR9csYnVZxxc01r1LpGPlgNFqvhcnWZUQ9zdqx3YVqMuMrLef4uq3wsQgkl7cS7mEnI-" height="281px;" width="221px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The exception to the rule.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">One could even look past the games themselves, and instead look at the vocal communities that enjoy them. &nbsp;We are building a record of responding to developers&rsquo; decisions in a fashion reminiscent of a childish rant, be it through ridiculous online petitions or even </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">death threats prompted by a tweak to the stats of a Call of Duty weapon.</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> &nbsp;While we aren&rsquo;t all horrible, homophobic psychopaths with the goal of hating on everything, enough of us are that I wouldn&rsquo;t be comfortable with presenting gamers as &ldquo;model citizens,&rdquo; so to speak.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Of course, there are obvious steps being taken to ensure that games will someday be taken seriously by the majorities. &nbsp;More and more games are attempting to appeal to those that don&rsquo;t normally care for them, especially indie titles such as Journey or Gone Home. &nbsp;Bite-sized mobile games have infiltrated the market, and while they aren&rsquo;t necessarily creating &ldquo;hardcore gamers&rdquo; per se, they are turning the hobby into a more everyday thing. &nbsp;With that said, however, there are still too many barriers keeping us from successfully penetrating into the mainstream. &nbsp;Until we can manage to consistently rise up above our cultural perception, instead of sadly exhibiting the stereotypes that define us, we won&rsquo;t be. &nbsp;Perhaps that time will come, and perhaps it will not. &nbsp;Perhaps it </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">should, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and perhaps it shouldn&rsquo;t. &nbsp;Regardless, the time is not now, and we need to stop pretending that it is.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=4238502" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxAre AAA Games Spreading Themselves Too Thin?/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/08/26/are-aaa-games-spreading-themselves-too-thin.aspx2013-08-26T16:11:00Z2013-08-26T16:11:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid--d81e253-bb65-d687-8d74-6fc6b8588188"><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/resized-image.ashx/__size/610x0/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-01-53-36-32-Attached+Files/0116.spread-too-thin.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Last week, I wrote a </span><a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/08/19/why-we-shouldn-39-t-try-to-compare-aaas-and-indies.aspx" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">blog</span></a><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> about why we shouldn&rsquo;t attempt to compare AAA and indie games. &nbsp;In my assessment, I reached the conclusion that because AAA games attempt to perfect (or at least be proficient in) so many elements of game design, whereas indies only try to conquer a few, the two types of game shouldn&rsquo;t be compared for overall quality. &nbsp;While I do stand by this assessment, posting said thoughts led to some further pondering. &nbsp;In my earlier blog, I mentioned that indie games oftentimes feel more polished due to a lack of scope (or rather, a lack of things to achieve) when compared to AAAs. &nbsp;However, I never stopped to wonder whether the &ldquo;all-in-one&rdquo; mentality of AAAs could be done away with (and whether they would feel more focused and polished as a result), or if crafting games with multiple focuses is staple of the industry that simply needs time and practice to be improved. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I started by taking a look at some of the biggest AAA releases from the past year or so, including titles such as The Last of Us, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line, Dishonored, Devil May Cry, Dead Space 3, Hitman: Absolution, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Assassin&rsquo;s Creed 3, and various others. &nbsp;Most of these titles have received moderate to universal critical acclaim, although not usually for similar reasons. &nbsp;Some of the titles, such as Bioshock Infinite and Spec Ops: The Line, are praised </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">primarily </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">(although not exclusively) for their strong plots, but aren&rsquo;t as heavily lauded for the moment-to-moment gameplay. &nbsp;Others, such as Dishonored and Devil May Cry, receive lots of love for their innovative and engaging gameplay, but aren&rsquo;t necessarily as well remembered for possessing a whirlwind story.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/AG0sUVZaGV8_snYjTBdiraa0ukCKdXhZXul4GSSPNvfedR-VI6SJcCjOBpQnJquNV8rhVThGB0p9iiaL6zt-c1KNDftpCwTio2IXLLzR0orYxvLkhvaDeEhr" height="227px;" width="137px;" alt="" /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/o3AaKNnOjawP4krK44jO1LUj33o_PlxDnq1puuLugFeS96riu7IorDmAN98SThXZII3py9ZZENf3KpNnW-f7LvB7nxvr1SNQH40P_mbTaKXw_CnBCHSB6cCr" height="126px;" width="168px;" alt="" /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Why force this&hellip;. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;into this? (and vice versa)</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Critics will oftentimes (and rightfully so) condemn developers for attempting to incorporate elements into their games, such as intriguing stories, and then failing to deliver on the potential of said aspect. &nbsp;Typically, these flawed additions are a secondary focus, incorporated and designed to give variety to the primary goal of the game (be that strong mechanics, characters, or something else entirely), but can end up feeling half-baked as a result. &nbsp;A perfect example of this &ldquo;half-quality&rdquo; comes in the form of Spec Ops: The Line, which told a story that was both grounded in reality and full of emotional punch, but failed to deliver in the game&rsquo;s other aspects, including frantic gunplay and intelligent AI. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A similar example can be found in Dishonored, a stealth action developed by Arkane Studios. &nbsp;Most who played the game were fans of its open-ended nature, allowing players to navigate and complete sections in various ways, each tailored for a completely different play style. &nbsp;Combat (or lack thereof) was satisfying, and the variety in levels kept staleness at bay. &nbsp;However, even if the story was not actively hated by many, it was widely considered predictable and did little to grab the player. &nbsp;The world-building was well done, and gave hints to an entire globe of interesting prospects, but the moment-to-moment plot was only serviceable.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y2mGR6K-3GcYNRRCZG0My3IA5cCybN27sOV6izDa0mf3sOwbCwNTBSs5BXJESDVCi0K22U8c6r867O9Rv_P6cPLqXhnq0V07QXBzyY8bEesCLlGWcr-T_3k_" height="219px;" width="350px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">There&rsquo;s a story behind his mask...but I don&rsquo;t care to hear it.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">One might argue that, with these and other examples, the developers only inserted either certain story or gameplay elements in order to have an excuse for inserting facets from the other side of the spectrum. &nbsp;For instance, one could argue that, in the case of Dishonored, Arkane only inserted the whole &ldquo;You framed me, and now I&rsquo;m gonna kick your ass&rdquo; element as an excuse to have the player murder many, many people over the course of the game. &nbsp;Or, in the case of Spec Ops: The Line, developer Yager Developments only had the player shooting people so that an intense story about the horrors of war could be presented.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BpF3wG2z7FN8iusEEy0bi98w48uOlrcrkneIegihbDkrBUaYB7lZjLwviP9RKX5FyXavczRxZ3BeGLc1-m2KgQ20kw3nQ4YsBu54ptjbMUmnp6j5QXnXCLec" height="209px;" width="262px;" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">But here&rsquo;s the thing: that&rsquo;s not why these elements are present. &nbsp;If Arkane used the vengeance subplot purely as an excuse to pull out their knives, then we wouldn&rsquo;t have spent the rest of the game listening to the droning of various resistance members about political mumbo jumbo. &nbsp;We </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">*SPOILERS* </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">wouldn&rsquo;t have been betrayed a second time, and </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">*END SPOILERS* </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">we wouldn&rsquo;t have had an entire wealth of journals to read. &nbsp;No, the reason that Dishonored had a long, drawn out plot (that ended up being widely considered serviceable in most parts, and only proficient in a few) wasn&rsquo;t because the developers needed an avenue to present their gameplay, but because they considered it a large part of their game. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5NjUzSqbo0SjlyN87hjkIuZvmnTN860Je3qrzaqBbqsHcomwULELeYYu582uScaHg-EXYGKQNVfSVwkHY5HJRuXWCxjVCxMarVbkRADeG7uZaUk1bQqoj721" height="467px;" width="467px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Don&rsquo;t waste it on the stuff you don&rsquo;t care about.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And that is the heart of the issue. &nbsp;It is wonderful, brilliant, and fantastic that developers are going further with their games. &nbsp;They are attempting to include and perfect all aspects of game design in their one, singular package. &nbsp;However, an unwillingness to focus on a few key strengths often leads to a lack in quality/feeling of polish that is disheartening. &nbsp;With the growth of technology and the ability of games to be larger productions all the time, it feels natural that we should be attempting to tackle more. &nbsp;We should be able to create games that accomplish more than just a few goals with somewhat more consistency, but we haven&rsquo;t as of yet. &nbsp;I am confident that time, practice, and technological growth will fix the problem. &nbsp;But, for now, I just want to see more games that know what they want to be, pursue that above all else, and end up coming out stronger as a result.</span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=4061743" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxWhy We Shouldn't Try To Compare AAAs and Indies/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/08/19/why-we-shouldn-39-t-try-to-compare-aaas-and-indies.aspx2013-08-19T16:09:00Z2013-08-19T16:09:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-08b3e48e-9757-cf70-3dbe-c968777b25b1"><img style="margin-top:0px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Scale_of_justice_2_new.jpeg" height="304" width="364" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In this year alone, the gaming industry has seen the release of two AAA titles that are already being heralded as &ldquo;games of the generation,&rdquo; including The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite. &nbsp;Each game includes remarkable amounts of grand storytelling and heavy plot, &nbsp;with a focus on character development and relationships. &nbsp;They also include top-of-the-line graphics and set pieces that have managed to leave us all in awe, marveling at the scope of events occurring on a screen. &nbsp;They&rsquo;ve allowed us to form a connection with virtual characters, and be moved by the turmoil that they go through. &nbsp;Made with millions upon millions of dollars, these productions&rsquo; success can determine the fate of their developer&rsquo;s future, making them all the more risky. </span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bD6AYaOWJB2MZzxpvvrfIq0a6yRYAuHbgGL9b10mPkTKGOK1z4mUBY8nMt0AtpBq30MF8ph18a72nSIo_jp0ZpQRpL1LXAoDhBhJHhzHOk-4Elq6KEhMf6PA" height="184px;" width="262px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Large budgets for games can lead to a developer&rsquo;s demise.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In this year as well, gamers have witnessed an onslaught of well-received indie games, including Proteus, Guacamelee, Gunpoint, The Swapper, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and Gone Home. &nbsp;Shorter and less grandiose than the aforementioned AAA titles, these experiences don&rsquo;t try to awe the player with explosive spectacle, but by either delivering an intriguing, emotional story, original gameplay hooks, or both. &nbsp;Often created with the scraps of change and funding that indie studios can garner, no gamer expects the titles to imbue awe through technical prowess. &nbsp;That said, many have come off of playing one of these games feeling more impressed than they did after playing through any AAA game that was released this (or any other) year.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/FGZuqReysg8isjS2Mrr6gpl03gtgk-IYJF3MB8resFpClXxLGAeuYD0Aq8AUyKrNnAQpHpqJSKGAPn_VHvc6KByrHz2Yplfs5widBR310s972vXocCty6RUz" height="171px;" width="540px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Indies are displayed prominently on online marketplaces such as PSN.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Recently, in a fit of boredom, I decided to create a list of my top ten games in the year thus far. &nbsp;Here were the results:</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Last of Us</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Bioshock Infinite</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gunpoint</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The Swapper</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Gone Home</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Guacamelee</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Devil May Cry</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ridiculous Fishing</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sorcery! </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Proteus</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">With indie games taking up most of the list, I began to think. &nbsp;At first, I didn&rsquo;t hesitate to place Gunpoint, The Swapper, Gone Home, and Guacamelee higher than Devil May Cry, despite the fact that the first four titles are immensely different than the last. &nbsp;My experience with those four titles was more enjoyable than my time with Devil May Cry, and I designated them as &ldquo;better games&rdquo; as a result. &nbsp;However, upon deeper consideration, I began to question my rationale for the decision, and even wondered whether the two types of game (indie and AAA) should be compared at all.. &nbsp;After many moments of thought, I came to the conclusion that indie games don&rsquo;t have as many ways to screw up as AAA games do, and often end up making the player believe that they have more quality as a result. &nbsp;Thus, the two types of game shouldn&rsquo;t be compared.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/08rX0lRwU-iDXBnxV0Fr7c3BlblOAt-VNLVeU_36LlbvtbaxDsZwzOm9wPsX4tFQiT_GrnN7-qbBPgtQZE9tRkFI3jKQrMsBDAJIUp4ETARHAzhrt1WZOoWA" height="213px;" width="320px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Not apples and oranges, but close.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I&rsquo;ll begin by analyzing Gunpoint, which introduces one key mechanic (rewiring electronics to get through levels), and sticks with it for the duration of the experience. &nbsp;While upgrades and some slight customization is introduced, the basic gameplay never changes wildy. &nbsp;Combined with some witty dialogue, and the fact that the game lasts for only 2.5 hours, and you have a winner. &nbsp;By having one core gameplay mechanic, great level design, not lasting too long, and being well-written, the game succeeds. &nbsp;It doesn&rsquo;t go for (and doesn&rsquo;t need to) immaculate graphics or spectacular set pieces, doesn&rsquo;t last forever, and it doesn&rsquo;t ask the player to become emotionally invested. &nbsp;By not worrying about including every possible trait that has ever been in a game, the title feels focused and tight. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Similarly, The Swapper introduces a core mechanic (cloning), has a nice art style, and tells an interesting story with several implied themes. &nbsp;It is poignant and doesn&rsquo;t try to be more than it is, and ends up striking a chord with gamers as a result. &nbsp;The trend is prevalent in most smaller indie games that are successful. &nbsp;Nail down three or four aspects of game design/storytelling, insert them into your game, don&rsquo;t overstay your welcome, and don&rsquo;t focus on much else. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Now consider a title like The Last of Us. &nbsp;Naughty Dog set out to create a title with top of the line graphics, a fantastic plot, an intriguing world, brilliantly realized character development and relationships, engaging gunplay, several enemy types, smart AI, an atmospheric soundtrack, alternate ways of proceeding through levels, collectibles that expanded the world, and at least 12 hours of gameplay. &nbsp;If any one of these aspects is lacking in quality, it can bring down the rest of the experience. &nbsp;Additionally, attempting to do all of these things at once makes it nigh on impossible to perfect even one of them. &nbsp;That is why the entire industry is astounded when a title manages to pull of all of these aspects of game design in one package.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/J34k3LHq30LDgC9CvUTZ7AK9Bnv0ivNStC8HycZZwAOJIIKzO_NaJp6kV0m41CmG0c1xJmMLoes6qsxl1ZHrSgkBDY4UXAymIE-iKTe-vGD-_oW5oI5yQiPh" height="245px;" width="436px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">It&rsquo;s pretty tame graphically, but Gunpoint is one of this year&rsquo;s best titles otherwise.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">By not having to place their focus on more than a few unique goals, indies allow themselves to nearly perfect a few things and mostly leave the rest behind. &nbsp;AAA titles (for better or worse) try to accomplish much more, and often end up faltering as a result. &nbsp;An experience that is more concise, yet polished, will feel more satisfactory than one that is more broad and attempts to do more, but comes up slightly short along the way. &nbsp;So, when we say that Ridiculous Fishing is better than, say, Bioshock Infinite, I find the comparison unfair. &nbsp;While Ridiculous Fishing is ridiculously fun, it isn&rsquo;t trying to accomplish half the things that a title like Bioshock Infinite is. &nbsp;That isn&rsquo;t to say that AAA games shouldn&rsquo;t be critiqued as critically due to their desire to accomplish more, but it is to say that comparing their quality to that of an indie title is unfair.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/j1xmMLF3Ilgfeh_UJ5v5icB7f7B_Vg1DPoCU4mZGvjxOW9IpGyyMuH34kKwhStPfyu-d-mqNfquQ3S3OCF9B6o9TBi7ZYso2Zh0UlA5mqgFRNZVUBZfFDQvM" height="171px;" width="303px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Is that the problem?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Do I believe that &ldquo;top ten&rdquo; lists and &ldquo;game of the year&rdquo; awards, which aren&rsquo;t all that important anyways, should be separated for indies and AAAs? &nbsp;Nope, not at all. &nbsp;At the end of the day, we are just deciding what our favorite experiences were from that year, and the number of aspirations that a game has shouldn&rsquo;t be factored into that decision. &nbsp;The lists don&rsquo;t need to be relative to the resources required to make the game, but should focus purely on the enjoyment level of the player. &nbsp;However, I do believe that we should stop trying to clump and compare AAA titles and indie titles specifically, because the design and goals of each are different. &nbsp;Neither is inherently better or worse than the other, but pitting them against each other is completely unnecessary.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:19px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:19px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3957915" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxAre Artsy Games Simply Bedtime Stories For Adults?/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/08/12/are-artsy-games-simply-bedtime-stories-for-adults.aspx2013-08-12T14:01:00Z2013-08-12T14:01:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-144ec29e-72d5-91e6-7c71-54f322356d4b"><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com:443/resized-image.ashx/__size/610x0/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-01-53-36-32-Attached+Files/0434.journey.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In the last five years, the games industry has seen an influx of short, story driven games that are typically developed by small studios. &nbsp;A large majority of these games do not focus on action, set pieces, or complex puzzles, but are meant to deliver the player through a crafted, linear experience. &nbsp;Usually only a few hours in length, they are typically rather poignant and concise. &nbsp;Many of these titles attempt to teach a lesson or convey a central theme (</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Journey, The Unfinished Swan, Proteus</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">), but are ambiguous enough that each player can garner a somewhat different meaning from his or her experience. &nbsp;A few have been metaphorical in nature, such </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Papo &amp; Yo</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, which was created to share one developer&rsquo;s story of having an alcoholic father. &nbsp;Yet others give players the primer of a story, and then require each individual person to fill in the holes for themselves (such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther).</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">These &ldquo;art house&rdquo; projects are on the rise, with gaming sites reporting on the obscurest of titles in the genre daily. &nbsp;Many of the titles are released with little hype or fanfare, but others have risen up to win many awards and become special for gamers everywhere. </span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fTLyiRWil9FPwAjEagHk_8S3Jncv8lAH2oXyCY9y45FF2qg3iDwfMLRDnrj8QectQ7s3xh_jRSbY0eeDx0baglE0Vmx8BPtEpC9JbcvZKgt_n3fvshmSUK3x" height="155px;" width="277px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Dear Esther </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is godawfully nice to look at.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">While conveying themes and teaching lessons is something games have attempted before, rarely has the process been conducted in such an elegant manner. &nbsp;Titles such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Journey </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">typically have implied themes that gamers pick up as they go, but at no point is the lesson forced onto the player. &nbsp;Whereas many (not all, but many) games that try to convey a message feel a need to force said message on the player, these bite-sized experiences allow the process to happen at its own pace, typically nailing it down towards the end. &nbsp;A general mood that hints at the game&rsquo;s purpose is present the entire time, but never really makes itself blatant until the final moments. &nbsp;It is a trend that hasn&rsquo;t really been seen before in the industry, but has been prevalent in another form of entertainment since the dawn of communication, one that shares a remarkable amount of similarities with these new, experimental endeavors for gaming.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">That form of entertainment is oral storytelling, more commonly known as the &ldquo;fairy tale&rdquo; or, perhaps, the &ldquo;bedtime story.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mFX9egJX483bNTpFv-TZu44a0OetHFrYr0lhutFAwd_yrKLbZsM3awyzDWzSwP7jtP3KYexbcZdEEaHTkimXQ4bkyoQlTzLRKyn4XOUN_w9zUJ6oGkI5hQS0" height="232px;" width="185px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Rocking chairs are the best.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">At first glance, these two things have little in common. &nbsp;Fairy tales (and related stories) were created to scare children, or to teach them a critical life lesson. &nbsp;While they did usually contain entertaining elements, they were also very dark, and were created with the pure goal of lying to children in order to speed up their maturity. &nbsp;Meanwhile, these artsy games are interactive, somewhat strange-looking attempts at trying to invoke an emotional response from the player, asking you to learn something from the experience that might not necessarily be vital, but that the creator(s) simply wanted to share. &nbsp;And, a lot of the time, the attempts are successful. &nbsp;Countless gamers have voiced their approval of these artistic endeavors, saying that many of the projects have been some of the more emotional and thoughtful experiences that they have ever had. </span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Look a bit deeper, though, and similarities begin to pile up. &nbsp;Both forms of media require imagination to fully grasp what is going on. &nbsp;A mother attempting to imitate the voice of a man in a bedtime story, while hilarious, will not keep a small child from creating a unique voice for that character is his or her head. &nbsp;Similarly, if one looks at </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Proteus</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> in a purely literal sense, all that you will find is a first person view of some seasons changing and musical crabs. &nbsp;Searching beyond what the creator provides is essential to actually form a real connection.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/HrHQGqjExthzwUhVLNSfzTppHjuZxsHb4vmqV7D7KN8zgGx5oV32NTUSzqxmg-2yIsHQHMMUZcuv7E4I3D7zvzDvfcsheLr0yJPVL4MoDRw0qhsQLyswE4aH" height="218px;" width="349px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Run. Down. The. Hill.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The second large similarity is that lessons are being taught both ways. &nbsp;Regardless of what one person gathered from Journey (I know that I keep using that example, but it&rsquo;s a good one) versus what someone else did, something was learned. &nbsp;Because of the experience&rsquo;s subtle nature, which doesn&rsquo;t throw a life lesson in the player&rsquo;s face, there isn&rsquo;t only one theme that can be gathered. &nbsp;This is in contrast with fairy tales or bedtime stories, which typically nail down one two specific points, as the intended audience could lose the meaning entirely otherwise. Currently, the storytelling of a game like </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Papo &amp; Yo </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">is closer to that of an oral tale due to its very clear tone and ideas that are presented. &nbsp;However, regardless of the delivery, lessons are being taught and absorbed.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">So, there are similarities and differences. &nbsp;Both oral stories and artsy games are concise, try to convey ideas, teach lessons, and require imagination. &nbsp;However, games require the player to fill in more holes, and even sometimes create for themselves a message from their experience, while the stories are very one note, and oftentimes don&rsquo;t leave much room for interpretation. &nbsp;With these observations in mind, I ask myself a question: are the artsy games becoming simply bedtime stories for adults?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uKGb4dKzueb2uNmzdf48U7sj4bDonKJTjxsdhl998kcYFIjnWSOLFgdEy41XTeRnnoyJrPTig7Z5x_6iFPw0uLGiWfFOgQzTb21m69ikfpdaKWITwjnRHqfs" height="232px;" width="165px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Here&rsquo;s a bedtime story for no one.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">From about age fourteen and up, people don&rsquo;t enjoy being told how to feel. &nbsp;We like being able to mold ourselves and take from our experiences whatever we deem important. &nbsp;We begin to slip away from the founts of knowledge that are our parents (not completely, but we grow more independent), and begin to create a world of values and ideas for ourselves. &nbsp;When people tell us exactly how we should feel, we rebel against them. &nbsp;We never stop wanting to learn, but the ways in which we hope it happens may change dramatically.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This type of open ended learning is exactly what artsy games provide. &nbsp;They teach us things, and we feel as if we have grown as people, but not on a leash. &nbsp;We are given an experience and told to garner from it whatever we can, as opposed to being led to a canned theme that may or may not resonate with players. &nbsp;The brilliance is that no one will feel the same way when the game ends, but will come out a better person (or a more learned person, at least) regardless. &nbsp;When given free rein to feel as you naturally would, as opposed to exactly how the developer wants you to, the player forms a stronger bond with the experience.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fyvC0-A4xO8wrkaZ5JnoJUS19nMYsjMWjzTG7bvgDvxQVMRvcT-qgdSUm9uJLxnJA7DNYHPSC3QLnEJZeSiEFgscIOxTcbI1TY-pvVrvhHvzewu2553T9H_n" height="175px;" width="262px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">But not when you shove it down my throat.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I do believe that these types of games connect with gamers for the same reasons that fairy tales did when they were small children. &nbsp;Almost everyone enjoys learning, and being able to do it independently is something that is undeniably more attractive than being forced down a set sequence of thought and emotions. &nbsp;When we were younger, we needed the guidance. &nbsp;Now, we look for lessons that resonate with us specifically. &nbsp;By being thought-provoking, beautiful, poignant, open-ended, emotional, and chuck full of lessons that are interpretable in many ways, I believe that artsy games have become an advanced form of bedtime stories for adults. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3847365" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxNew Age Goes Old School: Earthbound/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/08/08/new-age-goes-old-school-earthbound.aspx2013-08-08T20:35:00Z2013-08-08T20:35:00Z<p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:403px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://starmen.net/mother2/images/screenshots/title.png" height="292" width="335" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is the very definition of a cult classic. &nbsp;Released in 1995 to widespread critical acclaim, the game grabbed at the hearts of gamers worldwide, and then disappeared from the face of the earth. &nbsp;No sequel was forthcoming (or rather, was localized), and until the game was re-released on Virtual Console a few weeks ago, the only hint fans were given that Nintendo remembered Ness&rsquo;s adventure at all was including him in the </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Super Smah Bros. </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">franchise multiple times. &nbsp;Outcry for more of the series has always been huge, but has been heightened by the aforementioned VC release. &nbsp;Fan translations for Mother 3 (Earthbound&rsquo;s Japan-only sequel) are readily available online, but gamers still want Nintendo to make it official. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H-5dyb3yVNX8vV11ptg-7grh0QfdNTb8ItItnQEne57kxRanwJSg2e0_gDW4EVc2S0pqGqISI5wOUfsUejnYZzuv5jm6HuHhPBOUEYQkARDWvXnodNSpwVg" height="287px;" width="287px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The thoughts of gamers everywhere.</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">With all the recent hullabaloo, I decided to check the game out, seeing as how I wasn&rsquo;t even earthbound myself when the game was released (ta-dum?). &nbsp;I wanted to find out whether the game stands up to the huge acclaim of an insanely active fanbase that lauds its gripping story, cutesy graphics, genuine humor, brilliantly realized world, creative enemies, and solid combat. &nbsp;What I discovered is a game that mostly aged well (with a few exceptions), and is still a great experience today. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">opens with the iconic meteor crash that sets in motion the events of the rest of the story. &nbsp;From the very beginning, it is obvious that the game will not hesitate to be zany, having players talk to both dogs and bugs, all while fighting space people whom were sent to kill said bug. &nbsp;However, another thing is clear from the start: this game is going to be an adventure in the most traditional sense. &nbsp;Like many other JRPGs of the day, the main character is an unlikely hero that is thrown way out of his comfort zone and into the spotlight, but </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">feels somehow...different. &nbsp;In a way that is hard to describe, aided quite a bit by the heavy presence of Ness&rsquo;s family, the game makes you feel as if your actions from this point forward will really matter on both the large scale (saving the world) and the small (getting home to eat Bread or Cake with mother). &nbsp;For me, it is this type of connection to the characters and story that define the rest of the game.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CkOiZeDtF72m5cmTiyBuDW2kXLbQPbJeeRTFRBoRz5eSdRFkDTEtJLvR56wQ9ThsV3D9v3zULf7YVBZGeDJN_lFLgBQ3DSA4zEBO29MAXh9Goz377i1tTLjP" height="221px;" width="323px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">That meteor is super tiny.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">It doesn&rsquo;t take more than an hour with the game to know that it still looks beautiful today. &nbsp;By including a myriad of colors and maintaining a cartoon-y art style that doesn&rsquo;t take itself overly seriously, the title manages to remain visually impressive. &nbsp;The characters, from the Runaway Five to Dr. Andonauts to the Mr. Saturns, are still as charming (or disgusting, if you&rsquo;re talking about the Cranky Old Ladies) and over-the-top as they were 20 years ago. &nbsp;In a lot of ways, the art style&rsquo;s timelessness reminds me of that of well-loved </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Peanuts </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">comics and cartoons. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For me, the combat is where the game starts to show its age. &nbsp;Players have a basic &ldquo;Bash&rdquo; or &ldquo;Shoot&rdquo; attack, and then also have a spectrum of what are basically magic attacks. &nbsp;The system is simple and the game never really offers too much challenge (although the beginning stages can be somewhat difficult), but it can still be fun to figure out how to counter and negate the effects of opponent&rsquo;s attacks. &nbsp;The game also has a rolling HP meter, which can make for some frantic attempts at trying to defeat an enemy or heal a friend before you end up with an unconscious ally. &nbsp;When the player is leveled high enough, enemies can be defeated without ever entering the actual combat screen, which makes for much less time spent grinding. &nbsp;This is a system that I could see benefiting many modern games, although some (such as Ni No Kuni, in which low-level enemies run away from your character) already have in different forms. &nbsp;Overall, the combat isn&rsquo;t bad or boring, but I feel as if it doesn&rsquo;t set the game apart from others in the way that many other parts of the game do.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/zByObWZCCHqLqKOIzQfnHtKPrEpUm9j0T03kZknOkgHnj8xU0Wb3HhXwDXwXwfw-oROvP0tXCymxVSxhY5eVQG85BCbERi-PcksKfqN900Dnt2x4Vrw094HS" height="299px;" width="341px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Combat is displayed on a screen with insanely psychedelic backdrops.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"><br /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The story is simplistic (aliens attack, boy is destined to save world), but the cast makes it feel like one of the greatest tales ever told. &nbsp;Within your party alone, the characters are diverse, including a girl who wields magic and loves children, a school-age techie, and a prince from a land that resembles Egypt. &nbsp;Outside of your party you&rsquo;ll find a rock band that is always in debt, a pair of lovestruck monkeys, a professor that nonchalantly ignores his own son, an egg-obsessed inventor, an overweight kid with a thirst for power, and countless other brilliantly written characters. &nbsp;Fourth wall breaking is a common occurrence, especially in the game&rsquo;s opening chapters.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MIdU-D8SITnaZKU2b57HS20hwzBF4uE72EqH2-3cXcLJqsB9FerQtWEq-pfTOBf8Ca89VW2TMD_FpxXVpLvCxSG01HFhrOKct77dZ-RfqXyWiEDTLy0nVRjU" height="245px;" width="280px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Jeff, I&rsquo;m your father?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The first half of the </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">feels relatively tame story-wise, not asking the player to do much besides take in the world and enjoy the characters. &nbsp;However, the second half begins to imply themes of maintaining childhood innocence, not becoming grim in hard times, and remembering your origins (heck, the game is called </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Mother </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">in Japan). &nbsp;The main character&rsquo;s family plays a large part in the experience, with the opening scenes portraying Ness&rsquo;s departure from home in order to save the world. When the adventure gets tough, players will acquire a feeling akin to homesickness, knowing that there is a family waiting for you just a few towns away. &nbsp;The lessons taught are impactful, reminding us all to take on the world with somewhat less seriousness, and significantly more positivity. &nbsp;The ending does a fantastic job of pulling together all of these thematic elements into a few moments that have not yet left my thoughts, and likely won&rsquo;t anytime soon.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Final Thoughts</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Earthbound, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">as of right now, is what I would define as a &ldquo;timeless classic.&rdquo; &nbsp;The art style is wacky and fun, adding a flair to the game that seems less common in the big titles of today. &nbsp;The combat isn&rsquo;t hard to grasp or go back to, but its simplicity and lack of much variety in strategies can make it feel somewhat repetitive after many hours. &nbsp;Thankfully, low-level enemies run away without a fight. &nbsp;Amid the beautiful graphics and so-so combat, however, lies a story and characters that are unforgettable. &nbsp;While the plot simple at first, it quickly becomes a tale of becoming a hero that must not only save the day, but keep smiling while doing it. &nbsp;Your party members will become a part of your family, and your family an inspiration to keep going. &nbsp;By the end, you&rsquo;ll feel like you&rsquo;ve truly gained something from the experience, and come out with more than you began with.</span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3785658" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxHumor In Gaming: Let's Drop the References/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/07/31/humor-in-gaming-let-39-s-drop-the-references.aspx2013-07-31T14:07:00Z2013-07-31T14:07:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-02ec60b4-350f-0957-c957-1ec5d2b8ba85"><img style="margin-top:12px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02570/Laughing_Animals_2570870k.jpg" height="232" width="374" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For almost as long as games have been around, there have been attempts at adding humor to the medium. &nbsp;Whether through fantastical art styles, clever dialogue (voice acted or otherwise), ridiculous enemies, playful characters, ridiculous gameplay, or various other techniques, developers have attempted to inject humor into games for years. &nbsp;Some, such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Portal</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, have found success through clever writing that oftentimes brings a grim smile to your face, but doesn&rsquo;t make you laugh hysterically. &nbsp;Others, such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Saints Row 3</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> and earlier </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Grand Theft Auto</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> games, place their trust in creating worlds that are so bizarre and ridiculous that the player is laughing for the entire ride. &nbsp;Lastly, many titles incorporate outlandish art styles to entertain the player. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Castle Crashers</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is a prime example of this type of game.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In this console generation, however, a new type of &ldquo;humor&rdquo; has emerged, and I think that it should be done away with. &nbsp;Or, to be more positive, changed to be more thought provoking and purposeful. &nbsp;Prevalent in games such as </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Borderlands, Duke Nukem, Retro City Rampage, Super Meat Boy,</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> and </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Saints Row</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, this type of humor is known as &ldquo;reference overload.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/I65Fa2ncgurAIn_r9ZK--He_0GOaK0gXLUo4SQaqtbQvj89J1JjV039j_r5OLSoAfnbEPW0fUSgL0RAlgL-hjiyrm-LxBzH8FalgYPB7KdzB_pSktDTHxwFG" height="181px;" width="290px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Borderlands is one of the most reference heavy games ever made.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Of course, the designation needs little explanation. &nbsp;These games are filled to the brim with references (or &ldquo;shout outs&rdquo;) to other video games, movies, books, shows, and other media. &nbsp;References might be found as the name of quests, areas, levels, on signs in the world, or in various other places. &nbsp;They might be hidden as the name of a weapon, or thrown at the player in the form of dialogue. &nbsp;Regardless of the source, an ever increasing amount of games are focusing their humor on these callouts, and we are laughing right along.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I think we&rsquo;re being fooled.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Let&rsquo;s take a look at </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Retro City Rampage,</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> which was released for PS3 and Vita last year (and other platforms later). &nbsp;The title is drowning in references to not only video games, but TV shows and movies as well. &nbsp;In the introductory mission alone, the player will find callouts to </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The A-Team, and Ducktales. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The game does nothing to spoof or poke fun at these titles, simply dropping them in front of the player. &nbsp;The references are just </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">there. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The way I see it, they are meant to pull smiles from gamers by either cheating their nostalgia or by making them players feel special for &ldquo;getting the joke.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ex8DN01PXcFuTixp_E76MUsmDalIdwfRXMjyY1d_P-UOWvXcv-NV-0CgkkoF7nWZSa5SdyBvyu3NWQu5hE_8qjegGCmt4jQPJhN57tjypJVBX_DhyXMFwj_E" height="229px;" width="275px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">There is probably a reference in there somewhere.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Or we could look at </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Duke Nukem Forever</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">, a game that was poorly received partially in relation to its poor taste in references (among many, many other thing). &nbsp;In a section of the game involving the turning of valves, Duke claims that he &ldquo;hates </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">valve </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">puzzles.&rdquo; &nbsp;Of course, this is meant to reference Valve, the creators of the puzzle series </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Portal</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">. &nbsp;But then...what? &nbsp;Another studio is called out for no reason whatsoever. &nbsp;The line has doesn&rsquo;t convey that Gearbox wants to share their thoughts on Valve with us, and was inserted purely to gain a smile from people who caught the shout-out. &nbsp;The line could have been written by anyone with a pencil, and doesn&rsquo;t add any legitimate humor. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/oC645wucaJ6QuS4r6KptrVkH1VxBtV0lHB0bua3pamxJPLUgNtI7dLpSnTFLN5bZ4JWIyY4W9IlOoSex0pZ28e7CC63OlfAxEYaxobJlpWjGPg0ehEDtviW1" height="183px;" width="325px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">You hate valve puzzles? &nbsp;That&rsquo;s fine, we hated your entire game.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">What, then, can be done to fix this? &nbsp;There are two options: drop the references altogether, or turn them into satire, or spoofs. &nbsp;I don&rsquo;t believe that the former is at all necessary, and I actually believe that there is a lot of room and opportunity for games to call out other media in a more effective (and legitimately entertaining) way. &nbsp;If developers can go from simply inserting references to having something to say about whatever they are referencing, humor-filled games would be more interesting and, well, </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">humorous.</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To better understand what I feel like games should aspire for when using this type of humor, let&rsquo;s look at South Park. &nbsp;Yes, it is a TV show (which I have admittedly not watched a ton of, but enough to get the gist), but games could learn a ton from it. &nbsp;South Park riffs on pop culture and real life figures in every episode with a clear goal in mind. &nbsp;When the jokes and references are displayed, it is obvious that the writers have something to say about the subject, and that they aren&rsquo;t just trying to grab a passing smile from viewers who can say &ldquo;HEY, I KNOW WHAT THAT WAS A REFERENCE TO.&rdquo; &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GzuAbKnaEdhhOvF_6bruQzIsyccYsKjJKJzQTuRBr0lW3v4kcp13_TAzmf8bYDmGiNwyIBVY9Tvb_94WLy0kQ0suOyCxBOzhbr2R9acHlmMBszWQyZ6ClIug" height="188px;" width="335px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Let&rsquo;s be more like these guys.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">At the end of the day, this isn&rsquo;t a huge problem. &nbsp;Humor-focused games are not yet a huge part of the industry, but they are rising. &nbsp;Especially in the indie scene, &ldquo;retro&rdquo; games created with the goal of invoking nostalgia are being released all the time, and often carry numerous references with them. &nbsp;Games that have had large commercial success (Borderlands, Saints Row) using this brand of humor show that the public is interested in that type of experience, and publishers will pick up on that. &nbsp;I just hope that video game humor does not devolve into a bunch of &ldquo;Wait, what was that a reference to?&rdquo; and &ldquo;Lulz, I got that one,&rdquo; and instead goes down the path of clever writing that feels both inspired and purposeful.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3575327" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxHey Internet, Let's Give Phil Fish A Break/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/07/30/hey-internet-let-39-s-give-phil-fish-a-break.aspx2013-07-30T13:45:00Z2013-07-30T13:45:00Z<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;" id="docs-internal-guid-38e5794f-2fd4-2e1b-638c-a83813568fbc"><img style="margin-top:198px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130504174611/fezthegame/images/f/f1/Polytron.jpg" height="193" width="344" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">For over a year now, Phil Fish has been called (and is known to be) a brilliant game designer. &nbsp;Fez is universally recognized as a clever, well designed, beautiful game that has kept many gamers up late at night taking notes, swearing at their screens, and simply trying to understand the world that Fish created. &nbsp;It is common knowledge that Fez&rsquo;s development was filled to the brim with hardships, yet Fish pushed through and delivered one of the best, most original gaming experiences from last year.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Of course, Fish has also been thrown into the spotlight for something else entirely: his comments on the gaming industry. &nbsp;He has shown that he has no issue with speaking his mind in both abrasive (and yes, sometimes rude) terms. &nbsp;He has repeatedly told reporters to &ldquo;f*ck off,&rdquo; and his thoughts on the Japanese gaming scene are nigh on legendary. &nbsp;He has been the subject of much Internet ridicule and hate from both common folk and industry professionals. &nbsp;It is fair to say that Phil Fish has been at war with the public ever since he sat down in front of a camera.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This, of course, led to the cancellation of Fez II just a few days ago. &nbsp;Fish went to Twitter to announce that he was abandoning not only the game, but the industry as a whole, citing the vitriol of the Internet as his catalyst. &nbsp;Immediately, the Internet was up-in-arms over the decision and began piling more hate on Fish, insisting that he was either mentally unstable, overreacting, or just a giant pansy.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">If I had to use one word to describe Phil Fish, though, that word would be &ldquo;human.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Rk49srqA2MpqlmFdcN72G6LVtxQAxNE66smSiCOuqBvk3OodMc6K_5cldEljkVvh_wJXdlfb1XmBCxFV197NUD1BwUaajafb37YTMO0or2C4RXZD6IGmEQWl" height="196px;" width="196px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Let&rsquo;s back up. &nbsp;Phil Fish spent </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">years of his life</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> envisioning and creating Fez. &nbsp;Hundre- no, thousands of late nights dedicated to staring at a computer screen to get further along on a single project. &nbsp;No breaks, no variety, nothing new, just Fez. &nbsp;I can only imagine what that would have been like, to love a project that much and have it require so much. &nbsp;Phil Fish is undeniably dedicated.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ee3o61RL2SBNKgMGIWvUTu6hfBJACogalMQVMT84xdA75osXoA5e5tP2pzUCwJxXy3j1dpTaI5FGMMVxyG0kTx8xRGt5t28hZvaRQZPDR0ryDS3RCdXXLg9x" height="235px;" width="419px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&ldquo;How can I piss people off next?&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Cut to Fez&rsquo;s release, which is accompanied by loads of praise and hype. &nbsp;Gamers everywhere are only just beginning to realize the world that Fish has created, and they are loving every moment of it. &nbsp;Notebooks are filled, sleepless nights are abundant, and Rosetta stones are decoded. &nbsp;Fish is basking in it all, feeling like his hard work has finally paid off. &nbsp;He is probably even feeling a bit untouchable, so to speak, with all the buzz that he is accruing. &nbsp;And honestly, anyone would. &nbsp;After spending years on one thing, and then have everyone love it in a matter of days, we&rsquo;d all become a little more, er, confident.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6hjDM-210_k-EbRsIbjZNpu-UMomqCr9UcUvYiq8hI9fxXkSTj0qBY__-32UE_3ug312aAtexjkIWys5azkZ-iWhkk6g1eu7k7eIRhXZt8zOVxVJxVQHafx7" height="257px;" width="238px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">And then the controversy starts. &nbsp;I don&rsquo;t need to chronicle the downward spiral of hate as everyone already knows every detail. &nbsp;Fish made very open remarks to journalists and other professionals about Japanese games, the Internet, and several other topics. &nbsp;He showed a willingness to speak his mind that sometimes came off as rude, which is understandable, and that granted him a loyal following of haters. &nbsp;However, I feel as if some of the opinions that he had could not be expressed in many other (nicer) ways. &nbsp;Or that, if they had, they wouldn&rsquo;t have the impact that they ended up having. &nbsp;And honestly, many of the disgust-filled comments that were aimed at Fish were filled with more abuse and hate than any remark that he ever made.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The controversy ends with a GameTrailers employee publicly calling Fish a &ldquo;wanker&rdquo; and a &ldquo;f*cking assh*le&rdquo; for not responding to a few questions in an interview. &nbsp;This backlash was unwarranted and rude, and quite honestly is more unnecessary than almost anything Fish has ever said in public. &nbsp;Spewing vitriol at your guest for not commenting on a situation is ruthless and immature. &nbsp;While not caused by only this specific instance, Fish abruptly canceled Fez II and left the gaming industry. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/AustY6whPfUTyH3UmTEoUwdOknnJyAcfDLNx2Gb07M3CJthg53a_4JmrotOIgU6w0VnC1xiyUiOls_x6xaXI3leoc0EVJiSHRN9FT-83oFRyg8Di79Hm1Mzf" height="210px;" width="371px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I don&rsquo;t want to turn this into a &ldquo;how would you feel?&rdquo; blog, but let&rsquo;s analyze: in the past year and a half, Fish has released (to critical acclaim) what is essentially his life project, which he toiled away at for years out of pure love. &nbsp;He gets a bit high on the hype and praise, and decides that it won&rsquo;t matter if he starts shooting out controversial opinions left and right. &nbsp;Of course, backlash ensues. &nbsp;The Internet becomes full of distaste towards Fish&rsquo;s very being. &nbsp;After deciding to speak his mind in a frank manner, he is met with the rage of people who haven&rsquo;t worked half as hard in their entire lives as he does in a week. &nbsp;A large portion of his time is spent listening to hate from people that are sitting in front of their monitor, in their mother&rsquo;s basement, while waiting for a bag of pizza rolls to heat up (this isn&rsquo;t a description of everyone that has ever given him hate, just a surprisingly large amount). &nbsp;Understandably, it pisses him off, and he decides to get away from it.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Can you blame him? &nbsp;If the answer is still yes, imagine this: You have just won a marathon. &nbsp;You cross the finish line, grab a bottle of water, and sit down to relax. &nbsp;You feel nothing but insane pride, and deservedly so. &nbsp;You alone had the victory, and no one can take that away from you. &nbsp;A local news reporter approaches you and asks a simple question.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">&ldquo;How do you feel about cyclists?&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Without really thinking, you reply &ldquo;They&rsquo;re assh*les.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Now imagine that you spend the next year receiving hate from every corner of the Internet for that one comment. &nbsp;Of course, you&rsquo;d be interviewed again and again about it, and would most likely eventually crash. &nbsp;You&rsquo;d want nothing but to get away, and decide never to run again.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/H0F6qfVIJraTXcMMTcRIvahQQ17x8TgR8HYaDBP7937Fd1Hrf03TZgUqq0WL2bIDS_aAFOifXDeD6sKEhU_MBiA0z-0Td8m2lzYSYsCmFzHluzmSOK_QUiXH" height="209px;" width="282px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">KILL YOURSELF GOSHDARNIT</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I guess that I&rsquo;ll finish this blog up here. &nbsp;Every time you post a comment, think about who could read it. &nbsp;Remember that even well known video game developers are still only people, especially the ones that are in the industry only for their love of games. &nbsp;Remember that people like Phil Fish can give and take as they please, and that they have no obligation to please you. &nbsp;He has worked for years to deliver a great product, and has put more time in on one thing than any of us ever will. &nbsp;In a world of companies that are slowly bending to the will of the Internet, let&rsquo;s remember the Phil Fish situation. &nbsp;You can hate the man, love the man, or simply not care, but remember that he is only human, and can only take so much.</span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3549176" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspxWhy Ouya's Kickstarter Means Nothing... And Everything/blogs/members/b/the_rolling_gamer_blog/archive/2013/07/29/why-ouya-39-s-kickstarter-means-nothing-and-everything.aspx2013-07-29T13:41:00Z2013-07-29T13:41:00Z<p><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img style="margin-top:13px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2839275/ouya.jpg" height="233" width="415" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">In July of 2012, a small team launched a Kickstarter with the hope of amassing funds for a project known as the &ldquo;Ouya.&rdquo; &nbsp;The device was and is described as an Android gaming console meant to give gamers control of the environment in which they play their games. &nbsp;The Ouya was designed to be a very open platform, allowing (and encouraging) anyone with a console to both play </span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">and</span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> develop games. &nbsp;Ouya&rsquo;s creators emphasized that there would be little to no interference between a developer releasing software to the public and the public being able to check it out. &nbsp;People could create and share whatever they wanted, and no one would get in their way.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The pitch was successful. &nbsp;Within only 8 hours, the project was already past its funding goal. &nbsp;By the time that the Kickstarter&rsquo;s duration had ended, the project had raised over $8 million and is currently the second most successful Kickstarter to date. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7UNvu2Vrc8tDceAwXaVDiku--6L2kryMuQYrbdNPiuteIEqDQ7MzA6eYdbByEy7N-B6HwI5J6SaDhXsA1-jHReG8aODkqPfIzApWV1FqvxgCd6qVR_FuKCRO" height="185px;" width="349px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Flawless victory.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Beyond the commercial success, Ouya&rsquo;s Kickstarter also had profound impact on what many people envisioned could be the future of video games. &nbsp;Left and right, the Internet proclaimed that the Ouya would spearhead a new generation of Android consoles that would lead the video game industry in the years to come. &nbsp;With a focus on user-generated content and easy distribution, plus the requirement of a &ldquo;free&rdquo; component for each game, the Ouya would find fans from gamers across the spectrum.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sufficed to say, that didn&rsquo;t happen. &nbsp;Almost exactly one month ago, the Ouya was released to the public with low to mixed reception. &nbsp;People are criticizing various aspects of the console, from the controller to the interface. &nbsp;Polished, fun games are a rarity, and even getting the system to work correctly can be a hassle. &nbsp;Sales numbers from the NPD weren&rsquo;t released, but were described as &ldquo;light.&rdquo; &nbsp;Game sales are low, in part because many Ouya owners are simply pirating any game they want. &nbsp;Amid all this bad press, however, two questions stands out: &nbsp;Where&rsquo;s all the support from a year ago, and what does this mean for the future?</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aQt2o5KdWDcTEfWDOKWLoOljFrKtF4u2h_r92Ow-epA3I02a-L3GznD1hjGyirPD-Y1YjoGdz2Gd01HHd0PqCjuls8PD9MW4LEIMxA3tJmGiA6Pg6IzQkiFo" height="280px;" width="273px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">I searched for &ldquo;Ouya failing&rdquo; and got this. &nbsp;Okay.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">To answer the first question, we have to look at what the Kickstarter funds were used for. &nbsp;While $8 million might seem like a lot to you and me, it isn&rsquo;t for a group of people that are designing and building a video game console. &nbsp;When you take into account the serious cash needed to rent a workspace, pay employees, provide benefits, handle manufacturing, taxes, Kickstarter&rsquo;s cut, and numerous other expenses, $8 million dollars doesn&rsquo;t seem like a ton of money. &nbsp;Knowing this, Ouya&rsquo;s Kickstarter was launched not with the intention of gaining funds for a development cycle, but for something else entirely: the console needed investors.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Remember all of the crazy buzz around the time that Ouya&rsquo;s Kickstarter launched? &nbsp;The project was propelled into the spotlight, and everyone paid attention. &nbsp;The press was positive, and people were excited. &nbsp;The promise of a console where the player had control was something that many had been waiting for for years. &nbsp;The Ouya team had accomplished exactly what they wanted (and needed), which was to amass a bit of money and a ton of press.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kGfsQ2fNJaGzqVk-Tjp0GGG2onSqCA4FP25AkbGUK9dSX0kK6NFjrCbvPduauoHL0r2E861C4THl3P6Y0YpHHs89woqn5gPRQvEJID7ByY1SyZh_bWh2S9ZS" height="188px;" width="281px;" alt="" /></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Yeah...no.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">With these things accomplished, Ouya was an easy sell to investors. &nbsp;The team was able to present a product that was both making rounds in gaming news, and that had been able to garner $8 million in support from people who were working on pure faith that the console wouldn&rsquo;t be crap. &nbsp;Funding ensued, and Ouya was delivered to the public a year later with few hiccups. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">One month later, the system is being called slow by some, dead by others. &nbsp;The console is barely making any money, and developers are jumping ship by the dozens. &nbsp;The great press from a year ago has gone sour, and few have hope for the product&rsquo;s future. &nbsp;Investors are kicking themselves for supporting a failing idea, and will likely not entertain the notion of funding another Android console. &nbsp;Of course, this means that the prospect of seeing another large scale Android console project come to fruition is lessened. &nbsp;And, even if another attempt was made, the odds of seeing it succeed are deadened by the bad taste in the mouth of gamers that Ouya has left. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">So, what does this mean for the future? &nbsp;Products like the Gamestick (which runs on Android) will be launching this year, but I can&rsquo;t imagine that they will have large mainstream success. &nbsp;Beyond this year, I doubt that teams will have much success securing funding, as investors often look to the past for inspiration in their decisions. &nbsp;It could take several years for another large-scale project to see the light of day, but even that is unlikely if the public is past being interested. &nbsp;Companies like Google (whom is rumored to be developing a console) could be able to reinvigorate the scene and can most definitely handle funding, but the brand alone won&rsquo;t promise success (hi, Microsoft Surface.). &nbsp;In the end, Ouya was an oppurtunity for Android consoles to show their vision of the future to the world. &nbsp;However, lofty goals, lack of mainstream interest, and mediocre delivery have stymied the chance of these projects from having another chance for several years.</span></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3524023" width="1" height="1">The Rolling Gamerhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/The-Rolling-Gamer/default.aspx